Newsletter Vol No. 03
Achiever CHESHIRE HOMES INDIA - NATIONAL COUNCIL
A Member of the Leonard Cheshire Global Alliance
There are 23 Cheshire Homes in
India (Bangalore, Burnpur, CDT,Chandigarh,
Chennai, Coimbatore, Coorg, Dehradun, Delhi,
Jamshedpur, Katpadi, Lucknow, Madurai, Mangalore,
Mukampala, Mumbai,Nagapattinum, Prakasam,
Ranchi, Serampore, Trivandrum, Tollygunge,
Tuticorin). Each of these homes is independent,
managed by its own management board, serving the
cause of the disabled, the terminally ill and the elderly.
They are linked to the Leonard Cheshire Disability
(LCD), an international organization, through the
Cheshire Homes India-National Council. Cheshire
Homes have been expanding their activities to serve a
larger number of people with disability through
Community Based Rehabilitation (CBR) program, such
as Access to Health, Livelihood Training and
Employment, Inclusive Education and Advocacy to
sensitize the Government and the public at large.
Today, the Cheshire Services in India reach out to
around 20,000 persons in a year with disabilities
directly across India.
The Annual General Meeting of The National Council of Cheshire Homes India was
held on February 14th, 2015 in Bangalore. It started with an invocation song by Bangalore
Cheshire Homes – Girls.
Mr. Rana. M. Philip, Chairman informed the members about the passing away of Brig Ghai,
Former Chairman of Cheshire Homes Lucknow. The members observed a minute of silence in his
memory. The Chairman extended a warm welcome to all and a special welcome to Ms. Clare
Pelham, Chief Executive of LCD. The conference had the benefit of 2 special speakers - Mr. Prince
Asirvatham, who talked on Corporate Social Responsibility and Dr. Suresh on FCRA Ms. Revathy,
SARO briefed the conference on the role and activities of SARO specially relating to project
funding. Minutes of the Executive Committee Meeting of Cheshire Homes India - National
Council held on Friday, 13th February 2015 by Mr .Chandy Koshy –Hon Treasurer & Secretary Mr. P. M. John Vice Chairman delivered
the Closing speech. He took all present back to 1954 when Cheshire Home, UK was started after the World War II to 1956 when the first
Home was started by Lord Cheshire himself in Mumbai to the present state. It was a marvelous and nostalgic tour.
The Newsletter serves as a link between the Cheshire Homes in
India and enables each of us to learn and know what the other Homes
are doing. Please therefore keep contributing on your activities.
We had the CEO of LCD, UK, Ms Claire Pelham, visiting India for
the first time and attending the Annual Conference in February.2015.
One of her key messages was that Lord Leonard Cheshire had left as
his legacy a film stating that nothing is laid in stone and future
leaders of the Cheshire organization can evolve as they see best as
long as it served Charity for the disabled, the sick, and the old. So the
traditional residential Home may not be the only way of serving the
Disabled The LCD global strategy now is to serve the largest number
of people with Disability through CBR , Livelihood, Health,
Educational programs and Advocacy programs with Governments
and the Public. LCD, UK is advocating having Disability included in
the UN Millennium Development Goals for 2015 -2030.
FCRA approvals and its renewals are getting strictly vetted. It is
incumbent on all of us to ensure that all documents are perfect and
timely filing of returns is done. Foreign funding is generally project
based and irregular. We therefore need to expand the domestic
funding for our Homes.
Lots of exciting work is being done in our Homes/Services and I hope
you enjoy the activities and success stories in this letter.
With regards
Rana M. Philip
Chairman Cheshire homes India- National Council
EVENTS
ABOUT
Bangalore Cheshire Home: Both the homes
one in HAL Airport road for physically challenged girls and home
for senior ladies in White Field are doing well. All the girls in SDA
School and Sheila Kothavala School have passed the exams with
good marks and made the home proud by winning trophies in
sports and Merit certificates in studies one girl won cash prize of
Rs 3000. The New building in White Field is now in use, Cheshire
homes has entered into an agreement with the Daughters of
Charity who have placed 3 Nuns to look after the old ladies. All the
residents in both homes are doing well regular general health; eye
and dental checkups are conducted. Young staff from different
corporate visit from time to time, arranges entertainment &
painting competitions. Various hotels like Oberoi's, Avaya Attila
invite the residents to sing Xmas carols, Hotel Hyatt, Round Table,
KPMG arrange gifts and high tea for the residents during festive
season. A Hip surgery was conducted through our Out-reach
programme on Jennifer, daughter of our ex-resident Lakshmi.
Clare Pelham, CEO LCD, UK and Tiziana Oliva International
Director of LCD, UK visited our home
this year.
With Prime Minister Modi’s campaign for
CHI- Coorg has taken up the issue to
contribute to the Society in its own unique
way, by recycling paper and plastic.
Advisor to the Administrator,
UT Chandigarh Vijay Dev gave
away the 3rd Cheshire Homes
Annual Awards 2015 at Bal
Bhavan organized by Cheshire
Homes Chandigarh and the
Social Welfare Department of
UT on 22nd March 2015
CHI- Chandigarh
Cheshire Homes Delhi
Organized Painting, Sports, Dance
competitions. Conducted World Disability Day
Programme along with Culture Programme,
Eye Camp , Hair Care Camp every month and
Trip to Haridwar, Rishikesh and Golden
Temple Amritsar.
The candidates registered by Cheshire Homes
Chennai during the Accenture funded period were all
placed in IT and BPO companies. To ensure their future
savings, they decided to form a self-help group, called Ability
Self Help Group under the guidance of CCH and with a loan
from the Central Cooperative Bank at Thiruvanmiyur. They
have invested in the purchase of a TATA Indigo car and have
aligned themselves with the OLA Cab Company. This venture
has been vetted by a lawyer and they have signed an
agreement where the funds and returns are on a shared basis.
The candidates, of course, continue to work in their respective
companies, while continuing to fund this venture but also
looking a long term rewards.
LC Project - Prakasam
Team of 4 members (3 staff and one Federation
Leader) participated in the Programme. Out of these
4 members 2 are PWDs. Team met District Revenue
officer and District Disability Welfare Officer for
informing them about our relief plan and seeking
necessary District Authorities permissions for relief
works
Republic Day and Birthday Celebrations at the
Cheshire Home Lucknow. Republic Day
residents, decorated the Home with Republic Day posters
and presented an entertainment programme for residents
and members.
Candle and Masala(Condiments) Project. For
“Occupational Therapy”, Residents continued to produce
the Masala (Condiments) required by them and also sell the
same to people in Lucknow which did immensely well
during Diwali and Dussehra Festivals this year. The profits
earned were distributed to the residents as incentive and a
minimal amount was retained by the Cheshire Home for
sustenance of the project.
The fourth Year of the project funded by Accenture on
Livelihood Resource (LRC) was involved and committed
with various activities which were carried out with new
strategies and innovative ideas.
Training was imparted on IT, cycle repairing, Zari work,
chikan work, mobile repairing, EDP, self-employment,
envelope making, kite making, box making, watch making
and tailoring etc.
A Media Workshop was conducted on 03 Dec 2014 at
Halwasiya Court, Hazratganj, Lucknow. The workshop
was attended by Chairman, Joint Secy, LRC Staff, PWDs,
Joint Director Disability department and Media Persons.
Celebration & Birthday
Celebration of Residents of
Cheshire Homes India
Lucknow was celebrated.
The programme was
sponsored by Mr. Kishore
Mehrotra. The children
from Navayuga Radiance
School gave gifts to
Chennai Cheshire Homes
and LC Project
Nagapattinam with the
Rotary Club of DRISHTI and
Cognizant Outreach
Chennai, jointly conducted a
two day State Level T20
Cricket Tournament for
visually impaired persons.
Mandal Vikalangula Samakhyas
(Disabled Federations-which we formed and capacitated) and LCDDP has jointly
organized Political leaders and Government Officials meeting at Kothapatnam
and the Local MLA And district TDP party president Sri Damacharla Janardhan
has attended for the programme as Chief Guest and all Mandal Government
Officials and other political leaders attended as guests.
INSPIRATION
Upendra Kumar Mehto belongs to
Bihar and came to Dehradun in search of a
job. Living with his brother who is a vegetable
vender, he searched for a job in many places
but with no results, the reason being-firstly he
was not skilled and secondly due to his
disability in one hand. He could not hold
anything with one of his hands. He felt
disappointed and made up his mind to go back
to Bihar . One day the member of the LRC
team happened to meet his brother and he told the team member about
Upendra. He was asked to visit LRC center along with his brother. After
counseling, he was advised to join computer training at Cheshire Home LRC
so that he could be skilled and he agreed. By his hard work and regular
guidance of LRC staff, he learned computer and developed a confidence in
himself. After completing the training, he gave an interview and got a job in
domestic BPO at ISON.
Now he is very much happy with his job and is an earning member of his
family. He is also pursuing his graduation along with his job for better future
prospects.
23 year old Shankar is on his regular visit to
Cheshire Home’s CBR office, proudly showing
everyone the Certificate and a bronze medal that he
won at the recently concluded National Judo
Championship in New Delhi. Shankar is pursuing
Bachelors’ Degree in Management in a reputed
Mumbai college. “I am looking forward to my
internship this year with a reputed company.” says
Shankar, sounding ambitious as any young man, He
is also an active member of the Young Voices, the
advocacy initiative at Cheshire Home. He moves
about the Mumbai city and outside independently.
It has taken 10 years of hard work for Shankar who is
totally visually impaired and his family and Cheshire
Home’s unstinted support to him for as many years in
myriad ways, for him to be what he is today.
Shankar was a school dropout about a decade ago,
when identified by Mumbai Cheshire Home’s the then
just initiated community based rehabilitation
programme that focused on inclusive education. He
dropped out due to vision impairment that he
acquired while he was still studying in the 3rd grade
at a Municipal School in Andheri East, in Mumbai,
close to Dr. Ambedkar Nagar slum community where
he lives with his parents and 3 siblings. Shankar lost
crucial formative 5 years of education in his early life
by being out of school and no intervention until
Mumbai Cheshire Home identified him. Cheshire
Home’s immediate intervention started by way of
timely guidance to his family, facilitation of academic
tuitions at Cheshire Home and at Home. He was
taught Braille and facilitated training in mobility and
orientation at another organization. Within the next
year and a half Shankar regained his confidence; as
such he also started to move about independently and
showing interest in academics. As such he secured a
first class in his 10th grade. Cheshire Home ensured
that Shankar got enrolled into a reputed institution
for his junior college education where he opted for
commerce as the stream, where he again scored a
first class in the 12th grade.
“I received timely support from Mumbai Cheshire
Home at each step and milestone of my life during the
past 10 years, and have tried to make the best of
opportunities given to me. I know it will never be
enough, but I will try and give back to you (Cheshire
Home) in my own way. Between my time at college
and other extracurricular activities, still find time to
train other youth with visual impairment in learning
Braille. This is his way of giving back what I have
received.” Says Shankar with gratitude, as he
eagerly checks for an email on his personal computer
for an update on the next week’s lectures and
activities at the college
Rajani was born in 1995 at Laila
Village in Belthangadi Taluk. She had 5
other siblings all much older than her. Her
initial schooling was done in the village
Having completed her S.S.L.C in 2012 ,
she aspired to go to college and get
graduated. Meanwhile her father who was
ailing with a heart problem, suddenly passed away, leaving Rajani's dreams
shattered.
For a year she stayed at home and later realized that the only to get out of
poverty was to get herself educated and empowered. She felt she should learn
the computers which would help her to stand on her own feet.
Rajani approached Dr. Murulidar of Vrithi Tarabethi Kendra who runs the
Institute teaching Computers to the Disabled who brought her to the
Mangalore Cheshire Home. Rajani completed her Computer course.
Meanwhile she learnt to stitch and embroider cards and paint.
Rajani had weak eye sight and a weak palm and could not grasp the mouse
with the right hand. With counseling and effort and most of all the love, care
and Physiotherapy that she got at the Mangalore Cheshire Home, she was able
to slowly grasp the mouse and learn. Rajini wasn't up to the mark. She was
given extra coaching to make herself fit for a job. In the Month of June 2014,
Dr. Murulidar offered her a job in the Vrithi Tharabethi Kendra, where she is
teaching also doing office work during the rest of the time. She commutes by
bus daily to and fro and resides at the Mangalore Cheshire Home.
Rajani is grateful to the Mangalore Cheshire Home for empowering her and
giving her a future. She says that besides being empowered she has learnt a lot
at the Home. Good ways and how to get along with others. The Mangalore
Cheshire Home is proud of her achievement and wishes her a bright future.
Miss. Ranjani is D/o of Mr. Rajaram is having Loco Moto disability by birth, with left hand and
left leg with less functional. She is residing at 193 Mettu Street, Killai Railway Road, Keezh
Aunbavampattu, Chidambaram T.K. She has completed B.Sc (zoology), D.T.Ed in 2011. She is 25
Years old. Her parents are land less agricultural laborers, her two brothers are studying in college
and 9th std respectively. They live in a thatched house with walls made of mud. Even though she
has completed her D.T.Ed in 2011 she did not find any job. Hence she joined B.Sc. Zoology in Govt
Arts College, B.Muttlur and completed her studies in 2015.
LC project Nagapattinam Identified her as beneficiary of Access to livelihood Project supported by
Accenture and she was registered in the project
The LCPN project team identified Vidial Rehabilitation Center in Chidambaram, a Training centre to training Children who are affected
by Autism, CP, ADHD and MR. The project team arranged for an interview for Miss. Ranjini and she got selected in the month of march
as teaching faculty and her salary Rs 7000/month. Now her Self-confidence is improved and she started saving for her future. She also
supports her brothers education expenses. She feels very happy about her work with intellectual children. Her entire family feels very
happy about her present position and her support.
Inclusive Education Projects at Serampore Cheshire Home
Md. Saddam, a 8 year old boy who had Cerebral Palsy was the first CWD to
be admitted in the main Stream School on June 28, 2008 after he was given
initial training and treatment for fitness. The School was Chattugung G.S.F.
Primary School.
First Phase of Tom Burtlam IE Project was completed on 1st April 2011
after the full period of 3 years duration. Target of admitting 75 CWDs in
main stream schools was exceeded. Tom Burtlam IE Project continued for 6
years continuously without break and 178 CWDs were admitted to
mainstream Govt./Private Primary Schools. All these CWDs are continuing
with their education with hardly any dropout.
Serampore started the second IE Project after two months’ break. The
Nikhil Mehta IE Project commenced on 1st June 2014. It was funded by Mr.
Nikhil Mehta, a non-resident Indian living in the U.K. The project duration
is one year and the scope is limited to 15 CWDs to be admitted to main
stream Govt./Private primary schools. The Nikhil Mehta IE Project will end
on 31st May, 2015 and 18 CWDs have already been admitted in the main
stream schools.
The Association Jean Long in the U.K. have funded the third IE Project also
of one year duration but having larger in scope of target numbers. Started
Jean Long IE Project on 1st August, 2014 having a project duration of one
year i.e. upto 31.07.2015. The target of admitting in one year is 75 CWDs in
the main stream schools. By the time the Jean Long IE Project comes to an
end the target will be exceeded. Training in special computer software
‘AWAZ’ was arranged for Jean Long IE Project team members at IICP
Kolkata.
In the final analysis, the IEP team at Serampore Cheshire Home with the
technical support from LCD/SARO not only fulfilled the targets of the three
IE Projects but exceeded the targets by admitting a total of 274 disabled
children to main stream Govt./Private Primary Schools where they are
continuing with their learnings along with able bodied children.
CH Bangalore Livelihood Resource
Centre conducted its 15th Job Fair on 21
February 2015, leading to a great success,
witnessing 280 participants, 22 companies, 35
employers and 30 volunteers along with parents.
We had 22 companies with 35 HR personnel
conducting interviews. We had 280 candidates
including 130 candidates from CHI-BU
The companies spot selected 130 candidates and
today 65 youths are employed.
In our endeavour to ensure the candidates excel in
the interviews at the Job Fair, we planned a
preparation training called Ready to Succeed.
We held Ready to Succeed from 12 to18 February
2014 for 61 candidates (who had registered for the
Job Fair) at CHI-BU Premises. The training
covered undergraduates and graduates separately.
We began sign language training for corporate
volunteers from September to November 2014. The
training will end in November 2014. We had 3
corporate volunteers for the training.Our training
was interactive and followed with a test. This
training in sign language prepares the volunteers to
employers closer to our candidates.
Interact with our
candidates in a
friendlier manner and
also puts them at ease
during interviews.
This exercise is to
bring the volunteers
and
DONATIONS
Cheshire Homes India is a nonprofit organization supported largely by individual donations and
volunteers. It has all the required approvals: Society registration certificate, FCRA approval,
Income tax 12-A certificate, 80 G form, PAN card etc. Any donation is welcome and we shall
provide the 80G tax certificate. We look forward to contribution from individuals and request
companies to include us in their CBR programs. These funds shall be used for all the 23 Cheshire
Homes in India. The cheques and bank drafts should be made in the name of Cheshire Homes India
and payable in Bangalore and sent to our Bangalore address, as under. Please provide your name,
address and PAN number as anonymous donations are prohibited under the IT Act.
Cheshire Homes India - National Council
Opp. Manipal Hospital, HAL Airport Road, Bangalore – 560017
Phone Nos.: +91-80-25200585 / 25275332
Website : www.cheshireindia.org,
Email [email protected] / [email protected]