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Rights of Persons With Disabilities Bill: More power to PwD

Rights of Persons With Disabilities Bill: More power to PwD

Human Rights are for us all, but seldom do we see our society uphold these rights without any social or political bias. In that regard, the ‘Rights for Persons with Disabilities Bill’ has indeed come a long way, now amended and shaped to herald a more accommodating future.

Rights of Persons With Disabilities (RPWD) Bill:
The principal act for the empowerment of Persons with disabilities was the Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act, 1995. It was enforced 20 years back. In the years that followed, however, there have been drastic changes in the disability sector such as understanding disability and its social model of definition, new technology and process of rehabilitation etc.

The new Bill with amendments proposes to repeal the existing Persons with Disabilities (Equal opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act, 1995.

The revised bill has come as a boon for many. With the types of disabilities having been increased from 7 to 21, and the Central Government holding the power to add more types in the future, the bill is a much-awaited move to effectuate the Indian government’s ‘Accessible India’ program.

The historic announcement was made on the occasion of ‘International Day of Persons with Disabilities’ (3rd December). It saw the first-time inclusion of speech and language disability and specific learning disability, while acid attack victims, dwarfism, muscular dystrophy etc. were added as separate classes of specified disability. The new categories of disabilities also included three blood disorders: thalassemia, hemophilia and sickle cell disease.

This bill also provides for penalties for offences committed against persons with disabilities. Designated special courts have been proposed to handle cases concerning violation of rights of PwDs, thus accommodating the long-pending concern of whether or not we legally cover all types of disabilities.

Further, additional benefits for persons with benchmark disabilities and those with high support needs have been included. For instance, every child with benchmark disability between the age group of 6 and 18 years shall have the right to free education, while reservations in government jobs for certain persons or class of persons with benchmark disability have been increased from 3% to 4%. To provide financial support to the persons with disabilities, the creation of National and State Funds has been proposed. The need to ensure accessibility in public buildings in a prescribed time-frame has also been stressed upon.

Another highlight from the bill is that it provides penalties for offences committed against persons with disabilities. To handle cases concerning violation of rights of PwDs, the bill proposes the immediate designation of special courts.

This bill has given rise to expectations that it will be adopted at all institutions and public or private bodies in India at both national and state levels to achieve true empowerment and inclusion of Persons with Disabilities in a satisfactory manner.

MBCN Sports Festival 2016

MBCN Sports Festival 2016

‘Let me win but if I can’t win, let me be brave in my attempts’
— Special Olympics Athlete’s oath

This motto of Special Olympics is all about finding the courage to give it all one has got, give their hundred per cent, come whatever may. This special quote from the oath sworn by the athletes at the Special Olympics isn’t just a rhetorical statement but a fact that students at Mata Bhagwanti Chadha Niketan believe in and recently reflected at their Sports Festival.

Around 600 athletes participated in various sports activities of MBCN Sports Festival in the grounds of Genesis Global school. The sunny November morning, saw a variety of sports which gave the specially abled students of MBCN an opportunity to display their impressive capabilities, more than what is seen. It’s always more about the sheer efforts and hope to rise above all odds. Sports provide with the opportunity of competition, to grow in confidence, & improve health, skills, & abilities.

The MBCN Sports Festival was graced by and was a successful one under the guidance of Dr. Vandana Sharma, Director and Principal, MBCN; who has always believed in identifying and nurturing her students’ skills beyond disability.

The festival saw events like 25 mtrs Assisted Walking competition, Softball throw across various age groups and wings at MBCN and the ancient game of BOCCE, which was a delight and was participated by the Swayam wing

Each and every event was modified to suit the physical abilities so that every individual could showcase their potential is the best way possible. Proud parents and happy teachers were excited and cheered all the students throughout! Also, refreshment, support and first aid teams were actively engaged to ensure successful completion of this annual affair.

MBCN Sports Festival was indeed an occasion which proved yet again that it is special to have tears of sheer joy when one scores, receives a medal, hugs a friend to celebrate their success or gives me thumbs up to a friend… It was a day that provided opportunities, removed isolation and boosted self confidence of many! We hope to continue, support and cherish with such endeavors in future.

MBCN celebrates International Day of Persons with Disabilities

MBCN celebrates International Day of Persons with Disabilities

Every year on the 3rd of December, the world celebrates International Day of Persons with Disabilities. Promoted by United Nations, the day is observed to permeate an understanding of disability issues, mobilise support and sensitise our community towards the disabled. Everyone deserves the chance to live a life of dignity in a peaceful and prosperous world. The observance of this day is an attempt by the UN and its member countries to make sure that people with disabilities get the rights they deserve and are well integrated into every aspect of political, social, economic and cultural life.

Mata Bhagwanti Chadha Niketan (MBCN) A vocational training school for run under The Ponty Chadha Foundation, is also observing International Day of Persons with Disabilities in its own unique way. Come tomorrow, the students of MBCN will visit various locations in Delhi-NCR and meet people from all walks of life to make them aware of the plight and rights of the disabled. It is an initiative with the sole agenda of helping the masses realise that people with disabilities if given equal opportunities, can lead dignified lives as progressive citizens of the nation.

Along with staff members, these MBCN students will visit different places in the city, request people to click selfies, and give away balloons with smileys on them. Students would then share these pictures on their social networking sites with the hashtag ‘beyond disability’. Besides spreading this noble thought, MBCN students would also present a sapling to the heads of various institutes and offices, to be planted on this solemn occasion in support of their ‘right to breathe’.

Education: A Necessity for the Evolution of Humankind

Education: A Necessity for the Evolution of Humankind

Right since the beginning of time, the one quality that has separated humans from the rest of the animal kingdom is their immense plasticity and their ability to learn new things through observation. This art of observation was the beginning of our education and it helped us ascend to the top of the food chain over the next few centuries. The passage of time saw more refinement in human education, leading to further prosperity and increased life expectancy. One can call it survival of the fittest or simply God’s grace, but the crux of the matter is that it is the education of the human mind that has caused our gradual but unmistakable rise, and it continuous to play the same role even today.

In the present times, a human being devoid of education would be left far behind in almost all walks of life. Keeping that in mind, children today are in dire need of skill-imparting education that enables them to lead a respectful life as adults. A spokesperson of the same school of thought, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, the first education minister of independent India, believed that education was going to play one of the most important roles in the evolution and prosperous growth of our country.

One school that has successfully realised the dream of Maulana Azad is Mata Bhagwanti Chadha Niketan, a school meant for differently-abled children with special needs. Run by the Ponty Chadha Foundation, the school has a vision of providing holistic education to children with special abilities, including rehabilitation services for children with intellectual impairment, autism, cerebral palsy, spectrum disorders, hearing impairment and multiple disabilities. The school has a specially trained faculty that is committed to create an environment which optimises the quality of learning.

Some of the activities that MBCN is involved in are early intervention programmes, speech therapy, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, extra-curricular activities, play and recreation, vocational training and dance therapy. The great Maulana Azad believed that basic education was the fundamental right of each and every child. The same applies to children with special needs as well. At MBCN, no stone is left unturned to help these children walk shoulder to shoulder with other children as capable citizens of this nation.

Nobody knows what the future has in store for us. As prophesied by Abul Kalam Azad himself, only proper education can help secure a better life for us Indians and humans at large. The evolution of humankind is a work in progress, and the more educated we are the better prepared we would be to face every challenge that beckons us.

Say Yes To Vaccines!

Say Yes To Vaccines!

Despite the proven advantages of immunisation, many people still shy away from vaccines and needles, overlooking the simple fact that they are far more likely to be seriously injured by a vaccine-preventable disease than by a vaccine itself. Moreover, the present scenario in India suggests that there is also a significant lack of awareness in the country regarding full immunisation and its numerous benefits. So to begin with, we would like to define ‘immunisation’ for you in simple words because it can save a lot of lives and prevent serious diseases.

What is immunisation?
Immunisation is the process whereby a person is made immune or resistant to an infectious disease, typically by the administration of a vaccine. Vaccines stimulate the body’s own immune system to protect the person against subsequent infection or disease.

Now that you are aware of what immunisation actually is, you need to understand why you should say yes to vaccines and what good does immunisation do.

Why immunisation?
Immunisation is a proven tool for controlling and eliminating life-threatening infectious diseases and is estimated to avert between 2 and 3 million deaths each year. It is one of the most cost-effective health investments with proven strategies that make it accessible to even the most hard-to-reach and vulnerable populations. It has clearly defined target groups; it can be delivered effectively through outreach activities; and vaccination does not require any major lifestyle change.

How does immunisation help?

  • Immunisation protects against 25 different infectious agents or diseases including diphtheria, measles, pertussis, polio and tetanus.
  • Immunisation prevents illness, disability and death from vaccine-preventable diseases.
  • Vaccines interact with the immune system to produce a response similar to that produced by the natural infection, but they do not cause the disease or put the immunised person at risk of its potential complications.
  • Modern vaccines are 90% effective in protecting against disease.

However, absolute immunisation is a distant reality even today. Let’s talk about some obstacles faced by health organisations in their efforts to make immunisation a regular and widespread practice.

What are the challenges faced?

  • Lack of basic awareness regarding immunisation and on-going programs related to it.
  • Lack of wider implementation of currently available vaccines against major diseases.
  • Lack of area-wise data in medical records.
  • Lack of community involvement and engagement in activities related to immunisation in both urban and rural areas.
  • Lack of access to immunisation services in marginalised locations.

With a plethora of threatening diseases taking a toll of countless lives around the world every day, there is indeed a case for making immunisation mandatory in the present scenario. The phrase ‘prevention is better than cure’ might be a popular one, but do we really practice this advisable approach when it comes to our life? It is high time we did.

Checkout: Eco-Friendly Handmade Products by Special Children from Swayam

Let the Child in Us Stay Alive as We Grow in Life

Let the Child in Us Stay Alive as We Grow in Life

“The child is the father of the man”, said a famous English poet of the romantic age. The line stands true even today and will continue to stand true till the end of time. No matter how old we get, there will always be a child in each one of us, helping us blissfully sail through this thing called life. The more we try to subdue the child in us, the quicker we begin to age. It is this child in us that helps us stay young and sprightly.

As we grow older, we realise that it is the child in us that carries us through all our difficulties and anxieties. It is the carefree tenor of this child that becomes fortified in our personalities and helps us wade through life with ease. The more in tune we are with this child the better prepared we are to face the challenges of life, no matter how hard and overbearing they are.

We all remember our childhood with great fondness. It is the love and affection that we receive in our childhood that helps us become better human beings after all. A great person is the one who can act like an adult and yet can keep the child in him alive. To put that simply, great things are achieved by people who can act childlike despite the vigour of youth, those rare ones who manage to retain the virtues of childhood all their life.

Irrespective of our profession, the only thing that can help us reach the pinnacle is the passion and zestfulness of the child within us. Keeping that in mind, on this Children’s Day, the Ponty Chadha foundation got actively involved in celebrating the day by means of various activities, contests and campaigns. Ponty Chadha Foundation also occasion out to their audience through a social media campaign titled ‘For the Child in You’, helping adults reminisce their childhood days through games and gadgets only they can relate to.
Let the Child in Us Stay Alive as We Grow in Life
Other than that, the students of MBCN also celebrated Gurupurab by visiting Gurudwara Bangla Sahib, paying their homage to Shri Guru Nanak Dev Ji, and performing Seva on the auspicious occasion and will be taken out for various excursions within this month.

Diwali with Swayam: #RoshanKarein

Diwali with Swayam: #RoshanKarein

Celebrations have begun at Mata Bhagwanti Chadha Niketan (MBCN) for the most awaited festival of the year. Excited to celebrate it in style, students are planning something big for one and all to experience. At Swayam, the vocational workshop of MBCN, preparations are in full swing with our specially-abled children coming together to create beautiful handmade products to be offered as presents.

In a bid to remind us that we must not forget our loved ones on special occasions, they’re packing Diwali goodies for us to give away. With every box, they wrap a wish for our lives to shine like every other day is the festival of lights. So, with Swayam by your side, Diwali #RoshanKarein with innovative gifts for your friends and family.
These can be beautifully handcrafted gifts like bags and boxes from the vocational workshop of this charitable school for mentally and physically challenged. What goes behind the making of these attractive paper bags and colourful gift boxes is the persistent hard work of children at Swayam. They toil tirelessly to make these products with hand-made, eco-friendly paper.

A Sweet Gesture for WAVE Group and CTBC Bank
This year, both CTBC Bank and WAVE Group reached out to the school for extending Diwali wishes to their employees. Children at Swayam have been busy giving a festive touch to these gifts by wrapping them in red, gold and royal blue. Thanks to their commitment, the order was wrapped up in no time as they made 350 sweet boxes for the bank and packed off 2500 units for the corporate house.
The experience has been truly worthwhile. CTBC bank is our new collaborator working to find special talent at the vocational workshops of MBCN. It has supported us in further encouraging the differently-abled children to become independent and earn a living.

Spreading Joy to One and All
Apart from offering items for personal purchase, our Diwali benefits extend to buyers like Madhya Pradesh Hastshilp Evam Hathkargha Vikas Nigam and Taj, New Delhi. Likewise, our children have worked hard to meet product orders received from the Parliament of India, Loom Tree, NIIT Technologies and Marks and Spencer, London.

A Box Full of Surprises
It does not end here. If you go to the MBCN website, you can expect to find many boxes full of surprises. Available online, these products are a result of the continuous efforts of the differently-abled who are ever so engrossed in creating different designs.

Go Eco-friendly
From photo frames, envelopes and jewellery boxes to make-up kits and pen holders with frames, one can pick up any product here and find each to have been made with recycled paper. This Diwali, visit Swayam at the MBCN campus to appreciate the efforts of these differently-abled children and choose special gifts for your friends and family from a variety of handmade paper items.

Medical Insurance Facility Now for MBCN’s Special Kids

Medical Insurance Facility Now for MBCN’s Special Kids

Mata Bhagwanti Chadha Niketan (MBCN), a charitable school for the differently-abled recently joined hands with The New India Assurance Company Limited in the wake of extending health insurance benefits to the special kids. This is what MBCN believes in and propagate.

Health or medical insurance for persons with disability means that kind of insurance coverage which covers all medical as well as surgical costs borne by them. At MBCN, a health insurance camp was recently held where we gathered our special children who wished to opt for the ‘Swavlamban Health Insurance Scheme’. It was an opportunity of adding a value tag to their life. They made a beeline to take advantage of the benefits offered to them.

Joint Effort with New India Assurance Company
The scheme came in as a boon as it has been especially designed for the people with disabilities to derive maximum out of the affordable health insurance. The collaborating company also associates with the Ministry of Social Justice, Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities to bring out an affordable insurance programme for the underprivileged people.

This Swavlamban Health Insurance Scheme empowers the differently-abled to get insured to access the medical care and treatment as and when required. This scheme is meant for providing a comprehensive cover to every beneficiary and his or her family. For example, when a beneficiary gets covered, it automatically offers a cover to his or her spouse as well as a family of up to two children.

Group Health Insurance for Cashless Treatment
Single premium is offered throughout a particular age group falling between 18 to 65 years with an annual family income of less than 3,00,000 INR per annum. The scheme provides a cover for any pre-existing condition with a health insurance coverage going up to 2,00,000 INR per annum in the form of a family floater.

For such situations, the scheme especially has a tailor-made plan of Group Health Insurance ready. Swavlamban was conceived with an objective of enabling affordable insurance for the people suffering from different disabilities. It includes persons with blindness, hearing impairment, low vision, mental retardation, loco-motor disability and those cured of leprosy.

After this, the insured persons become eligible to opt to undergo a cashless treatment. The move ensures financial security for the people with disability and aims at improving the general living conditions as well as the quality of life for the differently-abled.

‘Swavlaban’ is to be self-dependent and with this new chapter being added to the history of MBCN, we are convinced to be moving forward in the right direction every day.

World Cerebral Palsy Day Celebrations at MBCN

World Cerebral Palsy Day Celebrations at MBCN

Mata Bhagwanti Chadha Niketan (MBCN) celebrated the World Cerebral Palsy Day with a lot of enthusiasm and vigor. Life is a celebration to those who find happiness in fighting a battle every day against a grave condition bravely. Imbibing the same thought, the words of students echoed from MBCN, the charitable school for mentally and physically challenged – ‘I fight Cerebral Palsy, what’s your super power.’

Join the World Cerebral Palsy Campaign
On the occasion, we celebrate the abilities and confidence of the children with Cerebral Palsy. The idea that was propagated was to love, understand and accept these kids the way they are. Like every year, we had fun activities like- ‘Chitrakari Badi Nirali’, ‘Aaja Nachle’, ‘Chalo Zara Sambhaal Ke’ etc. lined up to bring out their potential in the open.

A Gift of Fun with Therapeutic Effects
These were no ordinary activities but games in the form of exercises that showed how these children came a long way while braving the odds. It was an interesting sight at the Occupational and Physiotherapy department at MBCN where a lot of buzz was going on. For example – The teachers asked each child to colour a picture of apple but it meant a lot more than adding to the fun element. Physical, occupational and recreational therapies were going hand-in-hand with the planned games involving a token of gratification.

Colouring to Modulate Senses
Every child was colouring an image while leaning over a therapy ball. It is not only doing well to their visual, vestibular and multi-sensory processing but also modulating senses related to muscle tone and endurance. The act is beneficial in getting the kids to maintain a rigid position or posture during activity and makes them attentive while helping them have a better grasp.

Dance for Endurance and an Auditory Sense
Those who were dancing to the tunes of music were not unaware that it supported their auditory and multi-sensory processing and improved their muscle tone. As the feet moved, children were no longer lethargic or moved stiffly and paid attention to every beat. They were responding positively to the loud noise that only encouraged them to perform better.

Can Do Spirit Leads the Way
We were observing the joys of Cerebral Palsy and the fighter instinct that exists in all those who overcome it every day. It was an interesting sight to see them wear an ‘I’ and walk through a maze created in the shape of ‘CAN’ leading the way. What was remarkable was visual processing mingled with the modulation of multiple senses.
It wired their brains to put the puzzle together when they easily made their way to the finishing point. Children who finished tasks efficiently in a limited time were declared the winners. What cheered them more was the large crowd present to laud their efforts and the motivational posters pasted all around the walls.
There were few more acts like fetching objects and tearing paper into bits, and passing successfully through the hula hoops. Simultaneously, these activities allow better visual sense, muscle coordination and help an individual self-propel when lying down.

Autism and Cerebral Palsy: Myths and Reality

Autism and Cerebral Palsy: Myths and Reality

“The great enemy of the truth is very often not the lie, deliberate, contrived and dishonest, but the myth, persistent, persuasive and unrealistic.” – John F. Kennedy

Be it historical, cosmological or medical, a myth can only be curbed with facts, that are why it is extremely important to place proven facts against myths related to certain disorders as well.
Autism and Cerebral Palsy are disorders with symptoms that cannot be cited but felt over a period of time. This might also be the reason why several myths start doing the rounds in due course of time. In fact, most people use the terms Autism and Cerebral Palsy interchangeably, when they are actually quite different from one another. Autism is a developmental problem which limits the ability to interact and communicate whereas Cerebral Palsy is a congenital disorder related to muscle tone, movement or posture.
With this article, we delve into the myths versus facts debate in an attempt to elaborate upon the different aspects of both disorders.

Autism
Myth: People with autism do not care for others. They cannot feel any emotion and are unable to express themselves.
Fact:An autistic person can care deeply for others but cannot show spontaneity in developing empathy. According to Meenakshi Lamba, a special educator of Autism Spectrum Disorder at Mata Bhagwanti Chadha Niketan (MBCN), a charitable school for the differently-abled kids, “Children with autism are mostly non-verbal. They learn to communicate through pictures. They can simply express happy, sad or angry emotions.”

Myth: People with autism do not like making friends and love to stay in isolation.
Fact: Such people like to interact socially but are non-verbal, therefore less adept at developing good social interaction skills. Social skills can be taught to them quicker through specialised instructions and training, as opposed to letting them develop those skills just from daily life experiences.

The fact is affirmed by Meenakshi. “People with autism interact well with those known to them like classmates and siblings, and are happy but take a lot of time while interacting with strangers. We try a positive enforcement method in autism to motivate children to work.”

Myth: Autistic individuals are believed to be intellectually disabled.
Fact: The level of intelligence among these people may vary in general as they can be really bright or average or going through cognitive deficits. Meenakshi explains this very simply. “It is totally different from mental impairment but includes intellectual disability. Under this, the impairment occurs in three areas – communication, social skills and thinking as well as reasoning power.”

Cerebral Palsy
Myth: Individuals with Cerebral Palsy don’t get any better with time. Their condition only worsens.
Fact: According to Dr. Shruti Mittal, Head of Department in rehabilitation therapy at MBCN, “This condition is non-progressive. It is not curable but can be managed up to a level where a child can be independent even up to handling activities of his daily living.”

Myth: People with Cerebral Palsy can never become independent.
Fact: Children suffering from cerebral palsy, especially with hemiplegia and spastic diplegia, can go on to become employed adults with a family of their own. They can be taught to self-care for reducing the burden off their families. In the words of Dr. Shruti, “All we need to do is understand and accept these children as how they are and what they are. This is something that keeps them motivated and enhances their confidence to work for life.”

We believe that the views expressed above will help change notions regarding autism and cerebral palsy. When all such myths are busted, the world can move on to finding and inventing better ways to nurture, educate and motivate children suffering from these disorders.

ThankYouTeachers: Say MBCN Students

ThankYouTeachers: Say MBCN Students

A teacher takes a hand, opens a mind, and touches a heart.

A teacher has always proved to be an anchor in our journey of life. As soon as we begin learning, we hold their hands and walk through the path of education. Learning is an enriching experience that allows us to keep going until we reach our destination leaving us wiser and feeling liberated.
It was time for Mata Bhagwanti Chadha Niketan (MBCN) students to say #ThankYouTeachers to each one of those who have helped them move ahead in life. As the week began, they were gearing up for the Teacher’s Day celebration due on 5th of September. The pre-event activity saw a special gesture from the kids who went the eco-friendly way.

There were ‘Thank You’ messages written all over the notice board that paid a compliment to every special educator at MBCN. Children prepared special message cards and handmade paper bouquets for their teachers. Having received such love, how could their mentors not reciprocate? In return, they delivered a series of touching performances for these special kids.

They are and will always be unique

Unlike the usual, the special educators and rehabilitation therapists at MBCN had a different story to tell. They acted, danced and sang for their beloved pupils. The decorations were made, the stage was set and the rehearsals were in full swing when you had visited the place a day before.
Then came the day when the lamp was lit to begin the day by an inspiring figure, Mrs. Vandana Sharma, Director of MBCN. There was dance and silent skit performed by the teachers and students between the humming of songs. As the HOD of Junior Wing, Mrs. Rosy Kak welcomed the guests, students saw an entire range of performances lined up by their favourite teachers.

They are full of laughter and passion

In between, Mr. Rohit and Mrs. Anita kept the audience engaged through their anchoring. There was comedy full of laughs and romance full of passion when teachers danced all the way to our hearts. Mrs. Manju Chamoli’s performance was a special attraction as the students saw her dancing for the first time on a romantic number.
Inspired by life itself, and aimed at imparting lessons from everyday incidents, speech and hearing impaired students enacted a scene capturing the myriad milieu of general train compartments. Their expressions clearly matched the raw emotions of people who find themselves in situations that are difficult to evade.
There was a lot of talk about the MBCN teachers cum rehabilitators cum therapists; but have you ever wondered why they are different?

They are parents, educators and role models

Since 60-70 percent of MBCN educators are parents of specially-abled kids themselves, they have the empathy to play both roles equally well. Not just that, some of these Heads of Departments (HODs) aren’t just caregivers and tutors at the charitable school for differently-abled. They are extraordinary change-makers who are often invited as guest lecturers by noted government organisations like NIMH and NIHH. On the occasion of Teachers’ Day, these educators performed hand-in-hand with their differently-abled students to regale the audience.

They unfold new chapters every day

These are actually life’s hidden lessons for kids to learn from. We thank our teachers for unfolding new chapters every day with their words, actions and colourful personalities.

Festivals at MBCN – Strengthening Bonds of Love and Togetherness

Festivals at MBCN – Strengthening Bonds of Love and Togetherness

Our country, India is a land of festivals that are woven around its roots, culture and relationships. As Indians, wherever we go, we forge relationships with people and hold celebrations together. It is said that families that pray and eat together, stay together. The same holds true for our friends at school, colleagues at workplace or neighbours in immediate surroundings.

Every relationship we make holds the essence of festivities. Each occasion that we come across, is a way to bring families together. Recent such occasions have been Rakshabandhan and Janmashtami.

Bound With the Rakshabandhan
Rakshabandhan cherishes the brother-sister relationship. Like everywhere across our nation, it is celebrated with great fervour at Mata Bhagwanti Chadha Niketan (MBCN), our charitable school for children with special needs. It is a loving shelter that goes beyond the blood relations.

Here, we make Rakhi brothers who are always ready to share joys and sorrows, dreams and disappointments, happiness and distress of their Rakhi sisters. We appreciate the bond of affection between people in the true sense to cherish the real spirit of universal brotherhood that we conform to.

Exchanging Gifts to Mark Sweetness in Relationships
This year again, the occasion came when young kids gathered to celebrate the feeling of togetherness on Rakshabandhan. Like every year, girls put vermilion on the forehead of their fellow brothers and tied Rakhi on their wrists. Thereafter, gifts, sweets and chocolates were exchanged to mark the sweetness of the relationship they share. A unique thing about this place is that all the brothers and sisters studying here are special in their own way. They learn, love and express themselves differently.

Playfulness of Janmashtami
After, Rakshabandhan, arrived Janmashtami when the special children again reached school in colourful Krishna-Radha outfits to celebrate the birthday of Lord Krishna. They donned vibrant smiles as they imbibed and enacted their mythological roles complemented by their costumes. Altogether, they enthralled the special educators, rehabilitation therapists and support staff at MBCN while engaging them into fun through games, music and dance.

Krishna Arrives to Free and Lead Us
These kids remind us that these festivals form an integral part of our culture. They offer a refreshing change from the chaos of daily life and take us closer to God. By observing them, we move forward with a belief that the darkness around us starts receding when God appears. Our hearts and minds are shrouded in darkness afflicted by multiple miseries and anxieties. Thus, we look towards the almighty to appear within us and fill us with eternal hope in the darkest hour.