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Help Disabled Children with Shelter & Care

“We received a distress call saying that a blind girl is being held captive by a woman and is being forced to beg. Our volunteers were able to rescue that girl and bring her to the Blind Welfare Society home for girls. We cared for her and educated her. Today that girl is a senior government official”, says Asha Bhola, President, Blind Welfare Society (BWS) as she recalls how her organisation has been able to transform lives.BWS has been a ray of hope for 40 such blind girls, many of whom have been abandoned by their families owing to their visual impairment. Sadly, the care, shelter and education for blind girls come at a cost, and BWS is unable to keep its work going. Your donations can help shine the light of education upon 40 blind girls and change their lives forever. Donate easily through UPI, all debit/credit cards and net banking. Charitable donations to this fundraising campaign are tax exempted under 80G of the Income Tax Act (India). Neglect, Abandonment and StigmaIn various parts of the country, a blind girl is often seen as a curse and a burden for no fault of theirs. According to the nonprofit office bearer, “Many parents neglect their blind daughters and at times even sell them off for begging, etc. Even if the girl is from a well-to-do family, they feel providing education and care to a blind girl is a waste of money”. “What is the fault of an innocent child?”, she asks.Education, the only hope “These girls have no future without education. If they don’t receive education, they will remain uncared for. They will continue to be ignored by not just their families but even by society at large. Whatever I am today is only because of the education I received. But sadly, every blind girl is not as fortunate. Most visually impaired girls are deprived of any care and even something as basic as education thus leading to a life of darkness”, Asha adds. You can be the light in the lives of these 40 blind girls who have not seen anything but darkness. Help support their education and be a catalyst for change in their lives. Donate nowPlease donate to this fundraiser by Give, India’s largest and most trusted online donation platform, to help women facing domestic violence break the endless cycle of abuse and give them safe shelter.

Your donation can help 40 blind girls get food, shelter and care. Donate now

“The major problem in society today is the stigma against mentally ill or mentally disabled people. Families feed and care for men who are mentally ill and keep them at home. But no one wants to help women with mental illnesses,” says N Vanitha Rengaraj, chairperson of Sharanalayam.Sharanalaym’s ‘Jothi’ is a sanctuary for over 100 women facing mental challenges. Women with mental illness facing various challenges on the streets are brought to Sharanalayam with the help of the authorities and cared for. <img src="https://cfstatic.give.do/88597e5c-903c-4c84-8cf5-34ba9d96defd.webp" />Donate easily through UPI, all debit/credit cards and net banking. Donations to this fundraiser are tax exempted under 80G of the Income Tax Act (India).The women at Sharanalaym Jothi are provided with necessities like food, clothing and medical care. They also get mental health services, access to psychiatrists and counseling, empowering individuals on their path to recovery.Once lost and vulnerable on unfamiliar streets, the women at Sharanalaym Jothi find solace.By supporting mentally disabled women at Sharanalaym Jothi, you contribute to creating a better world. We can ensure these women receive the care and support they deserve.Over the years, Vanitha has tried her best to run Sharanalayam from her own resources and that of her well-wishers, but the last few years have been harsh. “I normally don’t extend my hand for people to donate. Many have come on their own. But life has become a bit difficult now. I need your support to take care of the women here and also bring more women here in need of help,” says Vanitha.<img src="https://cfstatic.give.do/e5b9bb35-4261-4187-a4cc-d89ac34d66cc.webp" /> How Sharanalayam came into beingThe NGO started its operations in 2001 from rented premises in Pollachi in the district of Coimbatore. It started with taking care of children in difficult conditions. It slowly started taking care of mentally challenged women. Sharanalayam has come a long way since that time, with hundreds of children and women being taken care of by the NGO in the last two decades. Many women were rehabilitated by the NGO, thanks to its facilities.Sharanalayam needs urgent support to take care of over 100 women. The organisation also aspires to take care of many more mentally ill women in the coming months and years. Vanitha cannot do it without your support. <img src="https://cfstatic.give.do/37ef7f6a-11d8-4a6c-b176-41dd5b51c21f.webp" />Donate to this fundraiser on Give.do, India’s largest and most trusted online donation platform, to help abandoned mentally ill women get care and shelter. Vanitha, 70, the founder of Sharanalayam cannot do it alone.Donate now.

Help 70-year-old Vanitha provide 100+ abandoned mentally ill women with shelter and care

Respite care for blind children having other multiple disabilities 

Differently Abled

DISABILITY IMPLICATIONS:The World Health Organization considers “Disabilities as an umbrella term, covering impairments, activity limitations, and participation restrictions. Disability is a complex phenomenon, reflecting an interaction between features of a person's body and features of the society in which he or she lives.” In India, more than 2% (2.8 crores) fall under the label of differently abled.Ideally speaking, the liberal and humanist framework of the Indian Constitution accepted by independent India more than six decades ago should have provided a solid foundation to act on the needs of its differently abled people. Unfortunately, a merely legislative approach has been preferred so far. Thereby, only token steps have been taken and the country remains largely “unfriendly” to the differently abled.A CURIOUS MIXTURE:In this situation differently abled stand no chance in securing any relief. The issue is also psychological, to the extent that, a common person is not interested in addressing any problem till he or she or the family is not personally facing the challenge. In addition, a curious mixture of thoughts and emotions simultaneously races through a “normal” Indian whenever he or she encounters such a differently-abled person. The first instinct, though most will not accept it, is to avoid any interaction with the differently abled person. Then if forced to interact, the exchange will be carried out in the fashion of a superior versus inferior/freak type of interaction. Working in the background will be a feeling of pity towards the differently abled person.MULTIPLE HANDICAPS:On this background it became essential for us - the Parents of blind children having other multiple disabilities such as Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Mental Retardation, Deaf &amp; Dumbness, etc. — to come together to form an organization and help ourselves in whatever way we can. This is how Sobti Parents Association was set up in 2004. Our organization is registered under the Trust and Society's Acts and we have been issued an 80G Certificate by the Income Tax Authorities.Incidentally, we may point out that many organizations are working to help disabled people, but most of them are limited to one handicap, either mental or physical. Ours is an organization that tries to help children and youngsters who are blind and also have multiple handicaps. Most of the members of our organization come from lower strata of the society and they do not have any financial or other means to help their children.RESPITE CARE:From a long-term perspective, such variously challenged children &amp; youngsters require a caregiving institution permanently. The Respite Care Facility is NOT an orphanage. The Respite Care Facility provides a healthy working and living environment as well as it helps these children and youngsters to maximize their limited potential to lead a happy and self-satisfying life. The children &amp; youngsters are looked after, helped and trained by professionals. In the management of the Facility, Parents also are involved, and Parents are not allowed to abandon their children at the Facility. Of course, the ultimate responsibility rests with the Parents.SERVICES OFFERED:1. Assessment of the potential of Blind boys/girls with multiple disabilities.2. Devising of individualized specific training program.3. Training in daily living skills.4. Training in Mobility.5. Training to improve cognition, communication and conversational abilities.6. Training for living in a structured daily schedule along with other boys/girls.7. Training in Vocational abilities.FACILITIES PROVIDED:1. To and fro Bus Transport from Thane City to Residential Vocational Centre at Tilsa, Taluka:Wada, District:Palghar.2. Well Furnished Separate Dormitories for boys and girls.3. Spacious Working Area.4. Fully equipped Kitchen and Dining Room.5. Trained and experienced Teachers.6. Professional Household Staff.7. Full Coverage by CCTV.8. If Required Emergency Medical Facilities are arranged.9. Water filtration plant with UV/RO.10. Solar electricity is provided for the center.FOOD &amp; OTHER ITEMS:The boarding (daily breakfast in the morning and evening, lunch, dinner, and tea twice a day) and lodging is provided at the Facility. Parents need to provide clothes, and items of daily living needs such as toothpaste, soap, hair oil, medicines prescribed by the doctors, etc.PROFESSIONAL CARE:The children stay at the Facility, for 3 weeks and then return home for 3 days, the cycle continues. The Facility is run and supervised by trained professionals. The Teacher to student ratio is 1:3. This makes it possible to provide personalized attention. The children and youngsters who attend the Centre, are being trained in various trades, such as artificial jewelry, food products, ornamental lamps, greeting cards etc. Care is taken to maintain personal hygiene. Also special care is taken to give the boys/girls prescribed medicines on time and as per schedule given by the Parents. These services and facilities can be availed by the boys/girls in Mumbai Metropolitan region. Sobti takes utmost care to make the stay of boys/girls comfortable and professional staff appointed is trained to provide all help and handle any eventuality - including death of both parents! Sobti would continue taking care of their beloved children.TRAVEL:The boys/girls living in Mumbai Metropolitan Region travel to Sobti's Residential Vocational Training Facility at Tilsa, Taluka-Wada, District-Palghar (about 2-hours journey from Thane) and they stay at the Facility for 3 weeks. Then after lunch on Thursday the boys/girls travel back to their homes.VACATION &amp; HOLIDAYS:During the extended holidays, such as - Ganapati Festival(1 week), Diwali Festival(2 weeks) and Summer Vacation(5 weeks) - Parents will have to take boys/girls home.REQUIREMENTS:The Facility has an area of 13500 sq. ft and has a capacity of 50 children/youngsters. The running cost of the Facility is around Rs. 25 Lakhs per year. This includes salaries of the staff, electricity and water charges, cost of provisions etc. The Facility is run and maintained exclusively on public support through donations of Cash &amp; Kind.APPEAL:Hence we appeal to you to provide substantial financial(Rs.6 crores) or other types of assistance so as to allow us to make more sustained efforts to provide suitable long term rehabilitation of blind children/youngsters having multiple disabilities.

Donations through Give Foundation, registered under section 80G of India's Income Tax Act, 1961 are tax-deductible.

Prakash B. Bal

Sobti Parents Association

This nonprofit is registered as a charitable trust under section 12A of India's Income Tax Act, 1961.

This nonprofit is registered under section 80G of India's Income Tax Act, 1961. This means you can deduct 50% of the donation you made through your tax return.

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Help Disabled Children with Shelter & Care

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Help 70-year-old Vanitha provide 100+ abandoned mentally ill women with shelter and care

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