Selfless support for patients with physical and mental disorders

When Ragini and Hemant found that their two-year-old boy was autistic, they did not know whom to approach. They spent three years searching for an institute, which would guide them and their child in coping with autism. Finally, they were told about Prasanna Autism Centre in Shivajinagar by a child specialist.

Not many are aware that Samvedana Foundation, which extends assistance to epilepsy patients, holds meetings every Wednesday at the Nivara Old Age Home in Navi Peth and that Red Cross Thalassemia Centre in Rasta Peth is one of the rare institutions for thalassemia patients in the city.

To help people know more about such organisations, city-based voluntary group Jigisha has published an informative volume titled Deepstambh in Marathi.

As the name suggests, it’s a compilation of complete information about voluntary groups serving those suffering from problems like schizophrenia, breast cancer, autism, mental retardation, visual imparity and depression/suicidal tendencies among other uncommon ailments.

Deepstambh’s editor and a member of Jigisha Shriram Oak, says, “Often the patients’ families tend to give up their search for proper guidance after much frustration. They feel they are just wasting time and energy. We therefore decided to bring such institutes together in our compilation.”

Jigisha is already involved in many social welfare activities and works in coordination with social organisations. Once they began with the task of compiling the information, they were taken by surprise on some issues. “We found that support groups for patients with thalassemia or epilepsy are almost non-existent. If this is the case in Pune, imagine the plight of patients in smaller places. We hope to reach out to at least some adjoining talukas and districts where it is difficult to get help,” says Nayan Brahme,
publisher of Deepstambh.

Even for such community-centric citizens, knowing about a voluntary group such as ‘Connecting’ which works towards suicide prevention was something new.

While researching, Oak and his associates visited various support groups, saw their work, scope and reach and studied the concepts implemented by them. They then selected 21 groups to be featured in Deepstambh. Detailed information about the work done by these groups and their contact details are provided in the book. A list of schools for the physically challenged and a list of  donors and charitable trusts which offer a helping hand to those in need of financial support in dealing with a serious illness, are also given.

“There are many generous people in society who wish to provide monetary assistance. These people look out for institutions doing genuine work. They are in a dilemma about whom to trust and donate their funds to. Our book will help them too,” says Oak.

Tales of selfless service
Sanchit, a book by Jigisha, presents profiles of many heroes working silently for physically or mentally ailing people. It includes moving stories of people like Ramakant Kulkarni, who donated his entire property to a hospital and now lives only for serving the patients. The book is a tribute to selfless service. Both the books, Deepstambh and Sanchit are available at Sahitya Darshan and Rasik Sahitya, Appa Balwant Chowk. Readers can also contact Shriram Oak on 9767434992.
 
Call for help:
Schizophrenia Awareness Association: 9923136584, 64700920
Regional Mental Hospital, Yerawada: 26696804/ 26681543
Prasanna Autism Centre: 9921096729/ 25652243
Muktangan, Pune (for de-addiction): 9423209443
Red Cross Thalassemia Centre: 9822592370/ 26068974
Samvedana Foundation (epilepsy): 9822008035/ 9850887644
Shri Chaitanya Charitable Trust (handicapped): 9763762582/ 24473646
Surhud Mandal (visually and speech impaired): 25656774