Visit to Mata Lachmi Rotary Institute for Speech and Hearing Handicapped

On 11th Apr ‘02 Report by Priti Patil

Highlights

Met with Ms. Bharati Joshi – Principal at the Institute building in Aadiupr

Mr. K. S. Joshi – Hon. Executive Director at his residence in Ghatkoper, Bombay

·        First Installment has reached and the equipments have been purchased

·        Second Installment is requested and VIDE has sent it recently

·        Very well designed and built building, reconstructed after the earthquake using the grants from SBI and HP for Rs21 lakhs.

·        Educating approximately 61 handicap students with different handicaps

·        Dedicated people, genuinely interested in working with handicapped students

·        They do keep up to date as far as the issues, technology and advances in their field of work

·        Facility designed and built for addressing programs for multiple sensory impaired and low vision children

·        Need additional funds for equipment and government grants for more teachers and an optometrist

·        Progress is very good and we can provide more funds for equipments and other projects

Introduction

Mata Lachmi Rotary Institute for the hearing and speech Impaired children in Adipur, Kutch has been running since 1985. The institute provides
primary and vocational education to the hearing and speech-impaired children from poor background in the surrounding area within a 10km radius.
This includes free transportation to and from the school every day. 

The institute lays stress not just on training using hearing aids but also has tools to let the children train their voice and hearing to a better level without
 any hearing aids.  In addition, children also learn vocational skills like screen-printing, embroidery, and mushroom cultivation along with regular education
to help with their livelihood.  As a result, these children also get emotional support and confidence to deal with other ‘regular’ people.

Mata Lachmi Rotary Charitable Society is also starting a center for low vision impaired children in the area.  They conducted low vision seminar in
Dec 2000 in which eye surgeons, doctors, school teachers, and principals took part.  Orders for some of their equipments for low vision section were
cancelled because of the earthquake.

Mata Lachmi Rotary Charitable Society has started the program of rehabilitation of the multi sensory impaired under the guidance of Blind People’s
Association with the financial support from Hilton Perkins International Program.

Project Status

·        This year, they have 61 students

·        Visited their audio-visual library and collection of educational and vocational cassettes

·        We saw following equipments at the premises: Cordless Hearing Aid, Induction Loop System for hearing aids with FM Mike, and
Teaching Aid for the low vision

·        Saw the Audiometry room with the equipments and also saw laboratory where they make the hearing aids using basic equipments

·        Saw their tools and equipments at low vision center.

Summary

It is a very good empowerment project for the handicapped children in Kutchh.  They are in need of funds and I think we need to support their equipment needs. Since the Kutch area is sparsely populated, it is necessary that they handle various different kinds of handicaps.  Looking at their initiative and the spread of activities, they would need lot of different equipments to help educate these handicapped children.  This institute can fulfill its promise to help them become independent and confidant citizens that can merge with mainstream and grow.