Serving hope and love to the challenged

Many people see challenges of various kinds all around them but do nothing about it, Some like Nitin Shah do wish to make a difference and thus empower them to the maximum extent possible. He faced such a situation with his own siblings and instead of despairing, became a sibling to many thus becoming a role model to many of us, His journey as told to Jamuna Rangachari is given below

On hearing about the birth of an intellectually challenged child, first reaction of the parent and other family members is that of shock awe and resistance. What worries them is how to deal with such child and what will happen to him or her when they are no more. These are disturbing questions that trouble every parent because such children are looked down upon by the society & become an object of pity and mockery. 

This situation still persists. But in last few decades, some perceptible developments have taken place in medical educational and social fields which gave new hope to the parents and the people. They realised that all is not lost.   

Such children may be lacking in some of the intellectual faculties which normal people possess but God has permanently endowed them which purest emotions which in case of normal people become early casualties as they grow, no so with intellectually challenged people. Their deserving smile their complete trust, their open armed welcome make our complex world a delightful place. 

Researcher and field workers claim that except the extreme cases where not much improvement can be expected children with intellectual disability can be trained to be near normal through special educational technics and training. You may be surprise to know that once trained in any vocation, they are as good as their normal counterparts. I am saying this on authority and experience of 26 years. I am not only a brother to such adults, two sisters and a brother but also a secretary to an Institution known as Society for the Vocational Rehabilitation of the Retard (SVRR) located on ground floor of a Municipal School building at Bane Compound, Tardeo. 

SVRR is involved in training and rehabilitation of intellectually challenged adults both men and women. They are being trained in cardboard file making, weaving and sewing sections. A good number of our trainees are employed or are self-employed. 

Till my parents were alive, I did not care much about my siblings. But once my parents left for the heavenly abode, being the eldest in the family the responsibility to look after my disabled siblings fell upon us. 

No doubt I got good and complete support from my family in discharging my responsibilities  but the problems were plenty and my family life was disturbed. Still I took it in my stride. I was more worried for my sisters who could not be left alone at home or outside. So I started looking for institutions nearby which provide educational and vocational training for such disabled persons. Society for the Vocational Rehabilitation of the Retarded (SVRR) in Mumbau was one such institution and it was not too far from where I stayed. 

On frequent visits to it I found the management and staff sincere and dedicated and the atmosphere was cordial. So I admitted my brother and put my sisters in OM creations. I became a regular visitor taking there interest in its work. I was taken in the managing committee and was made secretary in SVRR. It was here that I came to know about Niradhar Pratisthan at Virar with training and lodging boarding facilities. I found it an equally good institutions. I admitted my brother there. After initial hesitations my brother got well settled at Niradhar. This gave me more time to look after my sisters, family and SVRR which has since became my second home. One more development which gave me immense satisfaction was the trainees' parents voluntary participation in SVRR activities at my request. My vision is that people with any kind of disability should not be looked down upon by the society. They are human beings like us and very sensitive. A little push with love, care and training they can work wonders.  

My work gives me inner peace and satisfaction which is so rare in today's chaotic world. 

Hearing about him gave me hope in this chaotic world too

By Jamuna Rangachari