Reopening of Vocational section

Vocational training section of our school reopened on 1st May after summer vacation. The summer vacation was for two weeks. We have shifted our "Rakhi - rehab - unit" to Nagpur from 1st May. This is shifted to our Nagpur office premises. This rehab unit involves more number of volunteers at every stage right from designing to marketing. We were finding it difficult for volunteers to go to Butibori. There are many volunteers who can give only 3-4 hours day and preferably in second half. Most of the volunteers for this work are senior house wife's who can give time in second half of of the day. Thus shifting this unit to Nagpur office should be beneficial. We already have our social worker attached to Nagpur office, thus, her time can also be put to more use.

The change was off course resisted by all concerned including mothers of these mentally challenged girls, the participants of this unit. Change in any system is not accepted so readily, this is obvious. From any angle, this is beneficial for the mentally challenged students, parents and the practical execution of this rehab unit.

This change will certainly reduce load on our buses and we can admit few more mentally challenged children for next academic session. This in turn should help us in reducing the wait list for admission.

Rakhi rehab unit is not only financially independent but is commercially successful also. This rehab unit is showing consistent profitability since last more than 8 years. Parents are more than satisfied and take keen interest in the activity. I always feel, if parents can be more involved specially in rehab activity, then we are sure of rehabilitating more than 70 % mentally challenged persons. But for various reasons this does not happen and off course you can not blame the parents. Because, at SSS we do realize that every parson as a parent of mentally challenged has his own limitations. But the reality is you can not totally depend on paid staff as far as rehab activity is concerned. It is observed that, most of the institutes working for rehab activity for mentally challenged really work for giving job to normal persons. Thus it becomes rehabilitation of normal people rather than mentally challenged.