Dr Neelima Desai runs Navkshitij, a home for mentally challenged.
She started with a differently abled daughter and Rs5,000 and now takes care of 35 special adults with the help of 22 other staff members. This is the power of a strong willed woman who decided to help many other special friends.
Meet Dr Neelima Desai, who is the director of Navkshitij — a home for special adults. After taking care of her own differently abled daughter Aditi for 14 years, Dr Desai realised that there are many such parents who are struggling alone to bring up their children. A thought to bring all special children together struck her and her single handed efforts created a home for special people at ‘Navkshitij’.
Most parents take care of their children till the age of 18 and feel there would surely be some progress, but by that age, they realise that progress is not possible. But by that time, the special children also start growing aggressive or excited and that is when they need a peer group or special support and attention.
A doctor by profession and a loving mother at heart, Desai understood the needs of special friends and along with other helpers, created a special schedule and residential facility for them at Navkshitij in Marunji near Hinjewadi.
This idea made Dr Desai take the lead and start a day care centre in 2003. “We got a land on lease from the irrigation department and started functioning, but in 2007, we started a full-fledged residential centre for special adults,” says Desai.
Navkshitij is a registered NGO offering permanent residence for Mentally Challenged Adults. At present, Navkshitij houses 35 mentally challenged friends (MCF) with 10 female and 25 male adults taken care of by 23-member staff.
“We give them time for all they want to do, right from meditation to playing to making useful articles like paper bags and also gardening. Keeping them active throughout the day, gives them satisfaction and happiness to lead life just like a normal person,’’ explains the strong-willed lady who learnt management, logistics and much more while working for the special friends.
Navkshitij offers these parents more than just a ray of hope, by rehabilitating these mentally challenged adults. “At Navkshitij, once the MCFs are admitted, they are with us for life. Hence, there is a pressing need to establish more centres for other MCFs,’’ mentions Desai.
“There is a good mix of individual and group oriented activity, including yoga, meditation, gym and adventure activities. We hold workshops on making chocolates, candles, greeting cards, dolls and handmade paper bags.’’
Under the aegis of Navkshitij Adventure Club exclusively for MCF, Navkshitij takes MCFs from all over Maharashtra on a high altitude trek in the Himalayan region every summer, where they scale 10,000-12,000 ft, besides participating in exciting activities like zorbing, paragliding and rappelling.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}