for Children with Mental Retardation & Jyotsnaben Dhirubhai Naik Physiotherapy Centre
Managed by Blind People’s Association (India)
Plot No.155, B/h. Usmanpura Municipal Market,
Usmanpura (Village), Ahmedabad‐380 013
Phone: 91‐79‐27543370
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The journey of the Dr. Jit Mehta School is a long one. It began in 1976 when Late Mrs.
Manoramaben Mehta who had lost her son Dr Jit Mehta at a young age, decided to
engage herself in community work. The school was started in Manoramaben’s garage
without any frills and with no fees since it catered mainly to the neighbourhood of
Usmanpura, which is a lower income group community. She realized that one
endeavour was not enough as there was a need to have a similar institution in every
area. The problem of mentally challenged children is one of mobility. A mentally
challenged child cannot travel long distances alone. Hence there is a need to augment
school and learning facilities nearer their homes and in the neighbourhood.
The organization was granted a land by the Municipal Commissioner, Ahmedabad
Municipal Corporation, Mr. Asnani in 1992, and building was constructed with the
support of local donors. The Trust that runs the school is registered under the Bombay
Trust Act and the registration before the Charity Commissioner is
E3393 on 19th December 1978. The school is recognized by the Department of Social
Security, Govt. of Gujarat as a full day school.
This Centre is supported by Shri Narenbhai Mohanbhai Desai for Medical Support for Special Children of Dr. Jit Mehta Balshala Trust. He donated 5 Lakhs Rupees in the memory of his beloved wife Smt. Pragnaben and the Centre was inaugurated on 23 November, 2021. His family members and BPA Trustees and Executives attended this function.
The Day Care and Resource Centre for Disabled Children provides guidance and
training daily to 48 children with multiple disabilities to help them overcome their
disabilities and helps the parents to cope with the upbringing of the child. 4 Special
Educators and 3 Care Givers operate this facility, which includes an Activity Centre.
Children who are home based are called in once a week and their parents are given
training on how to manage this child at home.
After a formal assessment by the experts of the centre, the parents are briefed about the child’s disabilities and the resultant problems s/he faces, and counselling is provided to them as to the solutions to such problems. Parents are kept aware of improvements of the child’s future, and in addition to all this, parents are trained in methods of looking after disabled children. The Resource Centre has different types of equipment such as Braillers, tactile maps, mobility aids and different types of playing materials.
Jyotsnaben was born with disability but her parents raised to be fearless and a self‐advocate. She was very generous, disciplined and dedicated and according to her will she left her property to be used for people with disabilities. Her family honoured her last wishes and the house in which she stayed was donated to the Blind People’s Association for starting a Physiotherapy Centre and a Vocational Training Unit. Under BPA’s leadership this Physiotherapy Centre was started in October 2010 and in 2017 it was handed over for management to the Jit Mehta Bal Shala. 25 to 30 people who have orthopaedic or other pain related issues come to the Physiotherapy Centre for treatment daily. The other therapies available are Speech Therapist and Psychologist Occupational Therapist. The Centre gives free treatment to all persons with orthopaedic problems.
The Centre also organizes awareness programs for parents, caregivers and other family members on various issues such as importance of rehabilitation services, Govt. schemes, Rights of people with mental retardation. The parents are also counselled and motivated to access and avail the benefits of Govt. Schemes. Visitors are also given awareness about causes of mental retardation and how to manage such children.
The institute was officially closed as per instructions received from the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of Gujarat from 20th March, 2020. The teachers however, resumed duty from April and started home instructions for students through video calling, whatsapp calling and web meeting places. They continued to make masks, parents and children did block printing and patch work from home. The institute made lots of video films on training of parents, instructions in daily living skills, toilet training, yoga, sports etc.
“RASOTSAV 2021” is a celebration for their teacher’s hard work which they did last whole year to make these kids happy and energetic about the life. On this day we invited talent pool from all our centers spread across state. We had a combination of offline and digital Rasotsav celebration on 14 September, 2021 All India Flag Day for the Blind. More than 130 children with support of their parents and teachers participated in the program. 65 children gave LIVE performance in BPA Prayer Hall and this as well as virtual performances streamed through Zoom from our various Centres over Ahmedabad and Gujarat and also our Centre in Rajasthan. As a token of participation gift of Rs. 100 to each performer. As usual this programme was sponsored by Shah Investors Home Limited.
From 1 April 2021 to 30 September, 2021 online education and advice was given to 10 children. 4 children continued coming to the centre. From October, all students were called to the centre.
NEFT‐RTGS
Name of Account: Dr. Jeet Mehta Balashala Trust
Account No. 1069025021
IFSC Code: CBINO280541 Saving Account
Bank Address: Central Bank of India ‐ Ashram Road Branch, Usmanpura, Ahmedabad‐380014.
Phone: +91‐79‐27541475
Mahendra N. SHAH & CO (Chartered Accountants),
201, Pinnacle Business Park, Corporate Road,
Near AUDA Garden, Prahladnagar, Ahmedabad ‐380015
Gujarat, INDIA, Tel: +91‐79‐2970 51 51/52, 400 85 086, 89800 24640,
Email: mnshahco@gmail.com & chirag@mnshahca.com,
Web: www.mnshahca.com