THE STORY BEHIND THE SMILES
To fulfil Meera’s dream, who was a ‘special child’ Smt. Shakuntala Athalye started “Meera Vidyalaya” in a hall allotted by Dadar Bhagini Samaj on 23rd April 1978 under the umbrella of “Pragati Kendra”. In the year 1980 Meera Vidyalaya got a new address and it started operating from the premises of a Municipal Marathi Primary School on Telang Road at Matunga, Mumbai-400019. Meera Vidyalaya has been working for the last 40 years and has been instrumental in helping mentally challenged children, adapt to the mainstream of society. Today about 45 students between the age group of 5 to 18 years are studying in the school. Children having IQ below 70 are divided in the three groups for training namely severe, moderate and mild. In the curriculum we use five main skills- Motor skill, Self-help skill, Psychosocial skill, Communication skill and Academic skill to help the inmates to become independent and self-reliant. The school is recognised by Social Welfare Department of Government of Maharashtra and Rehabilitation Council of India. Our trust is exempted under section 80G of Income Tax Act.
“Recent Progress at Meera Vidyalaya”
The school which was operating since 1980 in the premises of a Municipal Marathi Primary School on Telang Road at Matunga, Mumbai-400 019, had to face a big blow as it was demolished in the year 2015 and has been taken up for redevelopment. Since then the school is operating temporarily in two different premises, one being Murlidhar Mandir Trust at Sion and the other at KC Matunga school at Shraddhanand Mahilashram Path, Matunga, Mumbai-400 019. This has caused a lot of inconvenience and hence we are trying very hard to acquire better and larger permanent spaces preferably in Dadar, Matunga or Sion for operating the school under one roof. However the amount required for renting premises in these locations could be too high for Pragati Kendra to afford due to its scarce financial resources.
Pragati Kendra did not want to abruptly discontinue the educational, vocational activities of the school which would adversely affect special children future. So we moved to the temporary arrangement to Murlidhar Mandir Trust, Plot No. 202, Sion, Mumbai-400 022. A special vocational training centre has been set up now at Murlidhar Mandir Trust, Sion. 10 students above 18 years are taught working on the flour mill to grind various flours and are also trained in embroidery, knitting, making artificial flowers, greeting cards, gift envelops, handmade paper bags, liquid soap, phenyl etc. They also make Gudhis, Diyas, Torans etc as per the festival. At present Meera Vidyalaya is providing free education to 40 special students in the age group of 5 to 18. An elaborate curriculum has been devised to develop different skills. Apart from this they receive training in music, dance, yoga, drawing, handicrafts, elocution dramatics etc. which helps their overall growth. Through the incessant efforts of the teachers and the constant care and help given by the Medical officer, Occupational therapist and Psychologist this school has won many National and International awards in many competitions and has really done India proud.
