Nightout for Matrusangharsh members

On 18th of Feb'2012 members of "Matrusangharsh" reached Sandnya Srushti campus at 10:30 am along with their mentally challenged ward. The moment our bus got parked in our campus the whole atmosphere got turned in to a festive mode. There were 35 mothers with their children and of course all Sandnya staff was also present. The total number was more than 110 which included few lady trusty members of Sandnya also.

Every year around same period we arrange this night out camp in Sandnya Srushti. The main purpose is to give an opportunity to these mothers to relax. Every mother of a mentally disabled child is under unending physical and mental stress. As it is even for mother of a normal child, motherhood is not only a full time occupation but is highly demanding. And having a mentally disabled child it further becomes challenging and tiring as well. There is no respite even for a moment. It seems they have no moment for themselves.

Therefore these two days and a night, we at Sandnya try our best to see that these participant mothers relax in whatever way possible. Though there is a overall program planned for these two days, it is being taken care of that there is no undue pressure for maintaining the schedule. The agenda includes small technical session, light exercises for physical relaxation, yoga for calming down nerves, music and cultural items. Mostly the participants are from amongst mothers and our staff. We try our best to keep the whole atmosphere in a light mood.

Awareness meeting-10-02-12

To day i.e. 10th Feb' we had students of Shree Dutta Meghe College of Education, Butibori. These were D.Ed & B.Ed students and the number was 68 with 3 staff members. They were present right from our morning prayer. To day Priyanka Sanyal was disturbed since she boarded the bus. Similarly, Ali was also disturbed. All these 3 students were not comfortable through out the prayer which lasts for about half an hour.

Anyway, our visitors after prayer were organized in three groups and three of our staff including our Principal took them on campus tour. During the tour our staff try to explain and demonstrate the actual work we do with these mentally challenged students. they were taken to our rehab units also to explain that mental disability does not mean work disability.

After this, guests got assembled in our first floor hall. Here Mr. Navin Deshpande, Secretary of SSS briefed the visitors on the technical part of mental disability like etiology, signs & symptoms and rehab procedure etc. Students asked questions & doubts which were cleared by the secretary. In the end guests were served with tea and biscuits and they left Sandnya Srushti campus. This whole awareness effort takes about 3 hours.

A novel awareness meeting

In front of our Sandnya Srushti campus there is IRA international School for normal children. The school is up to 12th Standered and has CBSC syllabus. On 7th Feb I received a message that IRA wish to send 85 students of 5th Standered to our campus to learn about our activity. We of course confirmed the visit. Since than I was thinking about how to communicate with these very young friends? We would certainly take them around the campus to show the practical aspect of our work which we always do with our all visitors. I was very apprehensive about telling them the technical part of mental disability. And then it struck me that we can take few integrated sorts events that would actually make them realize the limitations of our mentally challenged students.
On 8th of Feb' as scheduled 85 students of 5th stn. along with 3 teachers reported at the time of our morning prayer. After prayer, they were split in to 3 groups each lead with one of our special educator and taken around the campus. After this we got few IRA students and along with our students two teams were formed. They played football, passing the batten, passing the ball and putting the ball in the basket. The whole activity was worth seeing. All IRA students were very coperative and enthusiastic. In the end these IRA students assembled in our first floor hall. There was a small session conducted by secretary of SSS to make the visitors understand the condition called as mental disability.


By: Navin Deshpande

Donor's meet at Sandnya Srushti-05-02-2012

Sandnya Sanwardhan Sanstha called a donor's meet on 5th Feb'2012 at Sandnya Srushti. The donors were welcomed at 10:30 am with hot cup of tea and were taken around the campus to show the infrastructure. The programme began at 11:00 am sharp with "swagat geet" and small dance presentation by our mentally challenged students. Then there were two role model presentation by the staff of Sandnya on awareness. This followed with Secretary's PPT presentation on the journey of Sandnya since inception i.e.1993. He started with the prevailing situation regarding mental disability during 1993 and proceeded through with the progress made by the organization during last 18-19 years in respect of improving the quality of life of mentally challenged and milestones organization achieved. His whole emphasis was on Divine nature of SSS. He stressed that SSS is the Divine plan and they are only a medium through whom the All Mighty is getting it implemented. One of the donors Mr. Balasaheb Shende spoke for two minutes and suggested few ways in which Sandnya can be financially supported. In the concluding part Swami Pitambaranand elaborated on " Dan" as spiritual concept and told the approach which one should have while donating so that the donor gets maximum benefit not only in this life but in next incarnation as well. He quoted few quotations from Swami Vivekanand's lectures on this topic and enlightened the audience which was about 250 to 300. The programme was concluded at 12:45 pm and guests were treated with steaming hot lunch.

Matrusangharsh- annual program

Matrusangharsh will be celebrating their annual program on 22nd Jan'12 at "Sandnya Srushti". Apart from cultural events this day long program will have a technical session in which Mrs.Richa Deshmukha, the speech pathologist from US will guide parents on speech and language problems of their mentally challenged ward. Matrusangharsh is the forum of mothers of our mentally challenged students. Members of Matrusangharsh meet every fortnight in our Nagpur office. Here the members share their experiences and encourage each others to do better for their wards. Apart from discussing problems faced by them they have agenda for recreational activity also.

By: Navin Deshpande

Staff meeting

On Saturday, the 7th Jan'12 we had our staff meeting in Sandnya Srushti. Meeting started at 10:45 am and went till 1:00 pm. It was chaired by secretary along with Mr.Badkas and our Principal Shri Alok. The total staff present was 28 including staff working in garden as well. Mr. Alok talked about few routine administrative points. He stressed about the decorum and discipline of the evening prayer. He felt that most of the staff does not bring their students in time for "Pasaydan". Most of the staff said that the time is too short for them to bring their students to the prayer ground. By the time they reach to the prayer spot it is over and they have to rush students to the respective buses along with their school bags & tiffins etc. Staff members requested Principal to give them additional 10 mts. so that all students can take part in the prayer. Principal has agreed to this. The second thing which Principal raised about prayers, morning and evening was that most of the staff avoid praying vocally and it is only the prayer leader who's voice is heard. He insisted that all must say prayer loudly so that students will also follow. Mr. Badkas sir also emphasised the need of genuine involvement in prayer which is the integral part of our work.

Mr. Pakhare, our Vocational trainer suggested that we should have a quality circle comprising of 3-4 staff members to ensure and maintain discipline and ethical code of conduct. The suggestion was accepted and three staff members are nominated for this "Quality circle". A good initiative indeed.

The case of Pratik was also discussed. This boy Pratik came in our school about one year back. His age is about 25 years and he had not gone to any special school before coming to us. thus he has lot of behavioral problems. First thing is he lacks social skills. Secondly he has developed "wondering habit". He is not only excessively lethargic but does not want to anything. He is over weight. As per his chronological age he should be in a working group. But he does not sit at a place for even 10 mts. Our vocational trainer and support staff are trying various techniques. Some times these children are to be mildly punished to understand the instruction. Secretary reminded the staff that at any cost no physical assault be used as a punishment. he reminded them that Sandnya does not allow any such punishment at any cost. It is utmost important that, mentally challenged should be sent to special school as early as possible and their should be consistency also. Otherwise in letter years it becomes very difficult to trained them. In this case of Pratik, secretary suggested to correct the environment around him so that his behavioral problems can be addressed more positively.

The other topic discussed in the meeting was regarding absenteeism of students without intimation to the class teacher. There are habitual defaulters in this regard. There are few parents they simply do not comply with this request. Secretary suggested class teachers to identify such habitual defaulters and give these names to Principal. Our Principal in turn, shall talk to members of Matrusangharsh to help in this regard. Matrusangharsh is a non formal forum of mothers of our students. These mother members they meet every fortnight. These members can motivate these habitual defaulters to correct themselves.

Regular staff meetings is a integral part and important part of our work culture. It is through these staff meetings we not only maintain quality and discipline but try to work as a team. It is this effort on the part of the management that brings about exceptional progress in our mentally challenged students. These meetings also helps in resolving many problems faced by the staff in respect of infrastructure and their personal problems as well. Most of these meetings are chaired by the secretary and he encourages all staff members to talk and participate freely and openly without fear.

Secretary informed the staff regarding two awareness meetings to be held in Sandnya Srushti on 12th and 14 th Jan'12.

By: Navin Deshpande, Secretary

"donors meet"

Sandnya is calling a "donors meeting of our donors on 5th Feb'12 in Sandnya Srushti. The agenda of the meeting will follow soon. Wishing all our donors and well wishers a "Very Happy and peace full NEW YEAR"

Navin Deshpande, Secretary, SSS