SANGOPITA
A Shelter For Care
IDEOL OG Y OF SANGOPITA,:
It is indeed very difficult for the parents of special children (C.P./Multi Handicapped /Slow Learner /Autistic) to impart proper care and medical attention f om time to time. A family with a challenged child itself becomes challenged.
As it is in the name, the basic ideology of Sangopita is to provide home, education, medical help, various therapies and vocational training i.e. basic needs in a `home like environment' under one roof. Our endeavor is to enhance their physical, mental capabilities to the extentpossible and make them self-dependentfos° their basic needs.
Until the year ended March 2007, some of the kind hearted individuals and funding organizations have come ahead with donations to help us achieve our objectives.
In the last four years we have used these funds in the, following manner;
1 `Sangopita ' has acquired one and half acres land in the village Bendshil, Badlapur, Taluka Ambernath.
- This organization has constructed a multipurpose hall of 900 sq.ft. area in the year, 2004 and from 19 April, 2004 `Sangopita' has actually started its Special School. Initially starting from two children it has now reached a number of forty four students availing its benefits.
- `Sangopita' has dug a bore well and laid a pipeline, for water supply from the same and also arranged necessary furniture, kitchen equipments etc.
- From the safety point of view, this organization has constructed a compound wall and partially wired fencing around entire land and also cultivated a garden and grown different trees.
- The Rotary International has donated US $ 1000 in the year 2005-06 for the specific purpose of making garden with all the playing equipments like swings, slides, sea-saw etc. for these special children.
- In the year 2006-07, the construction of residential complex has been undertaken and two out of ten proposed rooms have been built.
- As per the increasing number of children and their medical classifications, three different classrooms have been built along with the construction of an Office Room.
- In a view to get the children hot water- for bathing purposes etc., the organization, in the year 2006 - 2007, has installed a solar water heater and thereby could save expenditure on fuel.
9.`Sangopita' has employed various stafffor the total development of children such as physical, mental and psychological development. Presently there are 44 disabled children and for them-~3 persons are deployed:
four special teachers-One psychiatrist
-One social worker-One occupational therapist
-One cook-Nine caretakers -
-One Boarding In charge
-One Vocational Training In charge
- In addition to this one doctor visits the Institute every alternate day.
: Proposed Proiect Plan for the Year 2007-08.
Proposal 1
A 32 Seater Mini Bus, which would cost approximately Rs.8 Lacs.
`SANGOPITA' runs a school for the `Special Children. 'According to the survey carried out by the Municipal bodies in the year 2000, there are about 190 such children in Badlapur alone. Only 22 of these children could get admission in this institute and the remaining are in a waiting list with a hope of getting an admission in the coming year.
The children who are admitted in our institute are those who need special education, medical help and various therapies. `Sangopita ' is situated 7 kms away f om Badlapur station and commuting to this place becomes difficult for these children. The Institute is now using a Maruti Van owned by the President of `Sangopita ' for this purpose. The children and the staff members commute by this van but day by day the increasing number of commuters has gone beyond its capacity. Hence a 32 seater Mini Bus would solve this difficulty.
Proposal 2:
[Construction of Residential Complex,
At `Sangopita', the children are provided a 'Home-like environment' for the `special children'. To enable us to carry out this goal more efficiently we desire to build Ten rooms for the residential children.
One single living room of 300 sq.ft area would accommodate six children alognwith one caretaker. This would enable these children to feel homely and live comfortable. Their caretaker would be able to take the maximum care because of adequate specialized rooms. Further the school cab get good, experienced staff for our children if they get a job with accommodation facility.
Two rooms have already been constructed in the year 2006-07. at least 3 rooms are proposed to be built in the current year.
The expected cost of one such room is Rs.1.20 Lacs approximately.
Proposal3:
Oigging of a well
`Sangopita'- This school is surrounded by natural beauty, in a village named Bendshil where there is no connection qI'municipal water. At present we are solely dependent on a bore well as a source of water. But this bore well water is not sufficient for an increasing number of children.
At `Sangopita' our children have also planted trees and grown vegetables, which can also meet their daily, needs. Hence more water is necessary.
Shortage of an electricity due to load shading for more than 9 hours per day pose as an obstacle in a pumping water out of the bare well.
To have an adequate supply of water for 24 hours, we have started digging a well in our premises. About 15 feet of digging work has been completed and still 35-40 feet digging is yet to be done. This well would provide us a sufficient amount of water.
To carry out this work and constructing the surrounding area of the well, the estimated expenses would sum up to Rs.2.5 Lacs approximately.
Authentic experts in this field have suggested the place where we can get sufficient quantity of water and then this place would become beautiful oasis where our children can get fresh vegetables throughout the year.
Proposal 4:
Construction of Internal approach roads an
`Sangopita' has 2'/ acres of land i.e. 41,OOOsq.ft out of which 7,OOOsq.ft of land is meantfor construction of building etc. and the remaining area is proposed to be used,for children's entertainment activities, such as garden, playground, cultivation of vegetables and flowers, etc. and for the parking of vehicles.
Footpath has to be constructed from the main gate to the boarding house and a school. If the footpath is made of cement concrete blocks then about SO brass blocks would be required. For making a tar road of I S " x 200 "ft. and footpath, there will be an expenditure of Rs. l. 5 Lacs approximately.
Once these roads and footpaths are constructed there would be safe and trouble free movements within the campus of `Sangopita'. This would avoid wild growth of grass and prevent the children from the poisonous creatures hidden in the same. `Sangopita'spends a huge amount in clearing this wild growth of grass during the monsoons, which can be avoided by the construction of approach roads and footpaths.
Proposal 5;
Wind Mill & - Solar Powered Street Lights
As you are aware that today whole of Maharashtra is facing an acute shortage of 'electric power. Our school is no exception to it. Though we have installed an inverter to overcome this shortage, that too has certain limitations. Sometimes there is a power catit,foflc?ng hours and an inverter cannot sustain throughout. Even the generator is installed and that too needs fuel, which is not cheap.
As we are located in a small village we depend upon the bore well as a source of water and during the power cuts water cannot be pumped out of it. It becomes difficult to take core of these special children during dark.
Hence Wind Mill can provide a good source of electricity as it can store and can be used as per our convenience. This can also help in cutting short on huge electric bills.
For installation of a Wind Mill and solar powered lights, an
expenditure of Rs.- is expected.
Proposal 6:
Installing a DVD Projector of Rs.50, 00
Installation of a DVD Projector would help us educate these children by showing various educational films on a bigger screen. A picture, which is bigger in size, has a great impact on children's mind and they easily learn the subjects. The impact is more compared to the impact made on children's mind through theoretical method.
Our staff also can be given proper training in handling special children by viewing CDs, Films produced by the experts in this field all over the world.
As we know now a days children have become addicted to TV, Films, etc. By showing educational films through this projector, our children can be given knowledge very effectively and they can learn through entertainment.
We can project necessary information during meetings, seminars, cultural programmes and thus it will help us in providing whereabouts of our organization up to the heart of a common man.
AN APPEAL
Our organization is only four years old and yet to get a Government grant. We have made all these developments with the help of our kind donors.
We also have to undertake certain projects as per our Project plan for the year 2007-08 which is also the necessity of the time.
To make our dream come true we appeal to our prospective donors (you) to lend a helping hand to our organization and help our `Special Children' to lead a meaningful life.
Donation is eligible U/S 80G (5) of Income Tax Act, 1961.
BIRTH OF `SANGOPITA'
SANGOPITA is the brainchild of Sujata and Ravindra Sugwekar.
Firstly let us understand the reason for the Sugwekar's to start a day cum residential school for `special' children i.e. those who are suffering from cerebral palsy or are autistic or slow learners. They have a spastic son Akshay. Akshay is now 7 years old. In these seven long years the Sugvekar's have faced an uphill task to give Akshay a meaningful life which he deserves. Unfortunately there was no school for special children in the vicinity, the closest being at Bandra. This phenomena set the Sugwekar's thinking and the idea of starting a residential cum day school for `Special Children' germinated.
The basic ideology of `SANGOPITA' is to provide Home, Education, Medical help, Various Therapies, Vocational training all under one roof. Our efforts are directed towards enhancing our children's physical and mental capabilities to the extent possible enabling them to become independent for their basic needs.
THEIR ACTION PLAN
1.Conducted a survey in Badlapur area (where they reside) and were stunned and shocked to find that there are 189 children who are spastic
2.They held a meeting with the parents of the special children to share their experiences, and inform them of their project.
3.Why also a residential School ?
Parents of Special children love their children but also have other family commitments, hence looking after their `special' children in a meaningful way becomes an onerous task.
For the above mentioned reason the Sugwekars thought of a residential school where they could provide a'home-like environment `for the `special' children as also enabling the parents to conduct their own daily activities with peace of mind.
4.Registered `SANGOPITA' with the Charity Commissioners under Bombay PubIicTrustAct, 1950on25thApri12003.
5.Purchased a 2 acres plot in Bendshil Village, which is 7 kms from Badlapur.
6.Built a corpus for the Trust by getting donations from friends and family. Howsoever to supplement the shortfall loans also had to betaken.
`SANGOPITA' in 2005
1.'SAN GOPITA' raised Rs. 3,15,846 during 2004-2005.
2.2000 sq. ft. hall is constructed where residential/day school has been
started.
3.Presently we have 38 children out of which 24 children are day scholars
and 14 are residential children.
4.Present status of manpower for our 38 children :
- Two Special Teacher
- One Social Worker
- One Physiotherapist
- Four Caretakers
- Two Overhead staff
- Facilities provided by us.
A.House:
Where they are loved and cared for by committed employees.
B.Education:
We provide specialized training in various fields and inculcate good habits
and manners.
C.Medical Facilities:
Physiotherapy, Speech therapy, Services of Psychiatrist, Paediatrician.
D.Vocational Training:
Screen printing, Drawing, Candle making, Chalk making, Gardening,
Making of Agarbatties.
E.Entertainment:
Music, Dance, Singing, Games.
F.Meals:
Balanced diet is given according to the dietician's plan.
THIS IS JUST THE BEGINNING......
FUTURE PLANS
i.We plan to have a residential complex of.
a.10 units where six children will be housed and a `mother' employee will look after them.
b.2 Dormitories.
c.Class Rooms.
d.Fully equipped Kitchen.
e.Meditation Center
- Start immediately a dispensary for nearby village as Medical Facilities are available only at
Badlapurwhich is 7 kms away. - A school bus for the day scholars.
The estimated cost forthe above is 17 lakhs approximately
Office: 3/16 Sharmili, Opp. Chinar Hotel, Kulgaon-Badlapur (E), Thane. Centre: At Bendshil, Kharwai-Kondeshwar Road, Kulgaon-Badlapur (E), Thane. Contact: 95251-2694989, 2695365, 2671706 Visit: