In an era where the elderly often find themselves grappling with loneliness, health issues, and a lack of dedicated care, one woman’s vision has been transforming the landscape of senior care in Goa. Meet Ms. Rohini Gonsalves, the Founder and Chairperson of Sevarat Healthcare and Nursing Pvt Ltd—Goa’s pioneering senior care service—and the driving force behind the Sevarat Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to enhancing the lives of the elderly.
From Corporate Corridors to Compassionate Care
Raised in the vibrant city of Belgaum, Karnataka, Rohini’s academic journey saw her earning a postgraduate degree in Marketing, Advertising, Sales Management, and Sales Promotion. Further honing her business acumen, she is an alumnus of the prestigious Goldman Sachs 10,000 Women program at IIM Bangalore.
Rohini’s professional trajectory is nothing short of impressive. Her career spanned across major cities like Ahmedabad, Chennai, and Mumbai, where she helmed national operations for Telecom VAS companies. This corporate stint, filled with challenges and achievements, laid a strong foundation for her entrepreneurial ventures.
However, life had different plans. In 2013, Rohini relocated to Goa, a move that would set the stage for her transformative journey in senior care.
The Genesis of Sevarat: A Personal Odyssey
Every groundbreaking venture often stems from a personal story, a moment of realization that ignites change. For Rohini, this moment arrived when her mother fell ill amidst her demanding corporate career. She recalls, “I was disturbed by the helplessness I felt when I had a demanding career, and my mother suddenly fell ill. It was a rollercoaster ride for our family, and I was particularly dismayed with the unavailability of compassionate caretakers to look after my mother in our absence.”
This profound experience unveiled the glaring gaps in senior care services, especially for the ailing elderly who required compassionate and reliable support. Driven by Mahatma Gandhi’s adage, “Be the change you want to see,” Rohini embarked on a mission to bridge this gap. Thus, Sevarat was born—a venture rooted in compassion, professionalism, and an unwavering commitment to the elderly.
Sevarat’s Mission, Vision, and Values
At its core, Sevarat’s mission is clear and heartfelt: “To enable families to experience fuller lives by providing personalized, professional, timely, and extraordinary service to the older persons.” This mission seamlessly aligns with their vision of becoming a brand to be reckoned with in the realm of home care for the elderly, grounded in formidable values and impeccable services.
The ethos of Sevarat is encapsulated in its values:
- Ethical Growth: Pursuing business expansion with integrity.
- Compassionate Service: Serving the elderly with love and empathy.
- Family-Centric Approach: Prioritizing the needs of the families they serve.
- Professionalism: Handling every situation with utmost professionalism.
A Spectrum of Services Tailored for the Elderly
Understanding the multifaceted needs of senior citizens, Sevarat offers a comprehensive suite of services. From medical necessities like diagnostics, doctor visits, home nursing, post-surgery rehabilitation, palliative care, and physiotherapy to psychological and emotional support through counseling, Sevarat ensures holistic care.
But their services don’t stop at health. Recognizing the everyday challenges faced by the elderly, Sevarat provides outdoor assistance for errands, local travel, and meetings. They also supply prescription drugs, surgical, orthopedic, and other healthcare products, ensuring that seniors have access to everything they need within the comfort of their homes.
Achievements and Accolades
Sevarat’s impactful journey hasn’t gone unnoticed. Their accolades include:
- Felicitation and feature in the quarterly bulletin by World Trade Centre Mumbai (March 2024).
- Runners-up in the Social Enterprises Category at the Herald Start-Up Awards 2024.
- Setting a world record with the largest number of senior citizens performing a Goan Folk Dance on August 21, 2022.
- Winning the Business Diva 2022 Championship.
- Recipient of the Dia-de-Goa award in 2020.
- Seed-funded by the Government of Goa’s Start-up Promotion Cell in 2019.
- Runners-up in the Chief Minister’s Start-up Championship 2017.
- Finalists in Kaun Banega Udyogpati 2017.
Driving Social Impact
Beyond business, Sevarat functions as a transformative platform. It identifies, trains, and grooms budding healthcare professionals, offering them promising career avenues. These professionals are then placed as home healthcare workers, serving the ailing and bedridden elderly. In catering to the most vulnerable, often neglected individuals, every team member is driven by the core purpose of serving the elderly with compassion and dignity.
Leadership Rooted in Values
Rohini’s leadership philosophy is a testament to her values. She believes in sowing what she wishes to reap. “We treat our staff with utmost love and respect, knowing that they will reflect the same values at their workplaces,” she emphasizes. Sevarat’s HR policy is built on professionalism, transparency, and fairness, fostering an inclusive environment devoid of barriers related to gender, religion, ethnicity, language, or physical appearance.
With customers, Sevarat maintains an unwavering commitment to transparency. Their ‘All or Nothing’ policy ensures that if a service falls short in any measure, the customer isn’t charged. This uncompromising stance on service quality underscores their dedication to excellence.
Charting the Future
Drawing an analogy to the Chinese Bamboo, Rohini reflects on Sevarat’s journey. “We have spent the last 9 years mastering what we do. Our processes, SOPs, and even our philosophy have been tried and tested. We have built strong roots. And now it’s just a matter of time when we will sprout and shoot up to touch the sky.” With aspirations to branch out across the country, Sevarat aims to solidify its position as a value-based, profitable social enterprise in elderly healthcare.
Personal Insights: Nuggets of Wisdom
Rohini’s entrepreneurial journey has been a tapestry of lessons. Her top three pieces of advice for budding entrepreneurs are:
- Purpose-Driven Approach: “Even when everything looks miserable, your purpose will drive you.”
- Financial Acumen: “The test of a business is in the bottom line. Working on that from day one is key to sure success.”
- Emotional Support System: “The path of entrepreneurship is laced with failures and challenges. Having a supportive circle rooting for you is crucial.”
A Clarion Call for Compassion
In her concluding thoughts, Rohini urges society to rethink its approach to the elderly. “The elderly are not people we need to think of as the annual good deed or even as a duty. They are as normal as we all are. They need to be included in our everyday life, making time to have conversations with them, taking them out, encouraging them to pursue their passions, discover new things, or just do whatever they love, even when it causes us a little disturbance or inconvenience. That is the right way to love them.”
Sevarat Healthcare and Nursing Pvt Ltd stands as a beacon of hope, ensuring that the elderly receive the care, love, and dignity they deserve. Through the Sevarat Foundation, Rohini envisions a society where adding life to the years of the elderly becomes a collective mission. As she aptly puts it, “We need the support of like-minded people to join us in bringing about this transformation in our thinking and actions.”
