Rubina Khan profiles Adhar which works for mentally challenged children.
Years back when Late Shri M.G.Gore a renowned Social Worker, after his retirement of working with mentally retarded children institution at the Children’s Aid Society was reading a newspaper report. It carried news that ‘a lady in USA killed her only Mentally Retarded son as there was nobody to look after him after her death.’ Totally shaken with the news report Shri Gore appealed to parents of Mentally Retarded and physically disabled Children for finding a lasting solution to their problem. It was realized that there are very few facilities that can cater to such children once they become adults. Parents are always in constant worry about what will happen to our children? Who will look after them?.
So the in this concern an institute was formed in May 1990 named Adhar (the ‘Association of Parents of Mentally Retarded Children’), an institute by the parents, of the parents and for the parents. “Mental Retardation is the worst handicap that affects the mankind and has no solution to cure this handicap in Medical Science” says Vishwas Gore the Chairman of Adhar and son of Late M. G. Gore. Currently foundation runs 3 institutes (Thane, Badlapur and Nasik) the center have 250 mentally challenged adults (195 male & 55 female) and 175 staffs to care of them (helpers, Metron Social Workers, teachers, Doctors, Physio Therapist Psychologist Psychiatrist etc.) He also mentioned “with more and more parents hearing how Adhar lifts a load off them, there was a need to start another home and it’s in a process of opening one more new centre in Nasik”.
“Over 2 % of all new born babies are mentally retarded also known as Down syndrome. It’s an intellectual disability and not a disease,” says Dr. Asha Fadnis, the Institutes have various programmes and children are kept occupied during the day in their respective classes at our in house vocational training centre.
On our visit to the Ngo on Sunday I found couple of parent, who had come from far to visit their children’s or family member at Badlapur facility. One of them was Dr. P.P. Bakshi and his wife who had come to visit their son, shared their experience, Mrs. Sanjeevni Bakshi says “my son Arpan has faced lot of problems and difficulties, Adhar is the 4th institute I have enrolled him after all the bad experience we had in last 8 years. Adhar has not only pleased us but it has improved my son’s wellbeing a lot. Since we stay in Nasik we visit him every month, now I am not worried who will look after my son Arpan when we are gone”.
“Girish Wadhwan is 45 years old who is not only mentally retarded but also suffering from Epilepsy, he is the one of the first 5 students to get enrolled in 1992 when the Adhar organisation was formed, It was difficult for my wife to handle Girish all day long , when the organisation was formed we were stress-free and emotionally satisfied . I am really happy to see my son improving and learning lot of new activities which is not possible at home” says Arun Wadhwan father of Girish and also one of the trustees of Adhar organisation.
To know more about the organisation we had some discussion with the members of Adhar, speaking to Mr. Parag Fadnis one of the resident director of Adhar , says Mentally Retarted has been the most neglected area of disabilities on account of public awareness and Government schemes & support. Parents run our organisation through Parents contribution & Donations as Adhar needs financial assistance because Adhar has no Government Grant or Aid. Its entire Infrastructural Developments and Maintenance is done only through Donations and Financial subsidy is given to all parents (operation cost Bourne 75% by parents & 25% through Donations) Special financial subsidy is given to needy parents.
India’s 3% population is suffering from Mental Retardation; Government should look forward to come up with an institute like Adhar.
