When Parag Fadnis turned his back on lucrative career as clinical psychologist in Mumbai, he knew what he was doing.
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The director of Aadhar talks about why he fled the urban routine to live a very special life
When Parag Fadnis turned his back on lucrative career as clinical psychologist in Mumbai, he knew what he was doing.
After spending time, working with tribals in Nagaland, Fadnis became the director of Aadhar, a shelter for mentally-challenged children, in Badlapur.
"Our founder, MG Gore, read in the news of an ageing lady who killed her mentally-challenged son because she had no support from her family. It was that which made him decide to start Aadhar," says Fadnis.
Aadhar had its first parent meet in 1990. Parents who attended faced a myriad of problems: Some were growing too old to take care of their mentally-challenged children, others simply feared they would not be able to cope with the child's special needs. Aadhar soon became a support group for them.
"Today we have more than120 children living with us," says Fadnis
According to Fadnis, when Gore was scouting for a location for Aadhar, he didn't even consider Mumbai. "These kids need the freedom to wander around and explore things, their life can't ever be restricted," says Fadnis. "In Mumbai they would probably have built a 26-storey building to accommodate them, but this verdant five-acre open space is what they need."
Fadnis has never regretted his decision to leave the urban sprawl and come and live with these special children. "When in Mumbai, my day's mission would be jumping in the 7.51 local, hoping to get at least a fourth seat. Today, I see life differently. I know each one of them [children] personally.
I am away from all negativity. I gain pleasure from the simple things in life. I am glad I have chosen this way. I am here because I like it," he says.
When asked why Aadhar doesn't ask the government to bear some of its financial burden, Fadnis explains that the thought never occurred to him. He claims the bureaucratic tangle and political interference would be too much to handle. "From what I have heard, the government would donate about Rs500 per child. We, however, would have to spend double that amount just to get the money," says Fadnis.
But that doesn't mean Aadhar isn't looking for donors. Fadnis claims that the shelter is not looking for major hand-outs, but he would appreciate people who came forward to sponsor food and other necessities.
"I don't think a retail chain would go out of business if it donated 20 kilos of wheat or rice to us," says Fadnis.
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