Mamata Vidyalaya

Project Brief: Mamata Vidyalaya is a school for Mentally Challenged children between IQ levels 40 and 60. This school is fully supported by Maharashtra State Govt. for all children upto age 18. The Savali project would engage children above 18.
Project Type: Children with Disabilities (description)
Primary Focus: children with disabilities (description)

Secondary Focus: vocational training

Area: Rural
Supporting Chapter Contact: Seattle
Status: Support ended.
Project Steward: Vidyanand Rajpathak
Project Partner(s): Guruswamy Kumaraswamy
Other Contacts: Premnath Venugopalan
Project Address: , Secretary, Matimand Shikshan Mandal, Mamata Vidyalala,Pragat Hospital, Dhulia Road,Amalner,
MAHARASHTRA  425401
Tel: (02587)225512; (02587)222293
Stewarding Chapter: Seattle
Dec 2005SeattleUSD 3200

Total = $3200

The existence of mentally subnormal child in a family creates a number of problems. Naturally, the problem is a constant embarrassment to both the child as well as the parents.

Drs. Asha & Kuber (Appa) Vaidya started the school in 1981 to help their mentally challenged daughter. This is the first school of its kind in Jalgaon district. The school has now grown to a strength of 50 children and is registered under the Societies Registration Act & Public Trust Act. This school is fully supported for Salaries & additional expenses by Maharashtra State Govt. However the State Govt. recognizes only children of age less than 18 to be eligible for being students of Mamata Vidyalaya. The mental age of the children is not accounted in this case.

The Savali Project is proposing to engage these mentally challenged and economically backward children to be a productive members of their family and society. The Savali project is an experiment wherein mentally challenged children would be engaged in Agriculture activities. The children would be responsible for cultivating their piece of land. The School Trust has purchased 6 acres of land in Amalner. They are currently cultivating Jowar/Bajra. They want to engage about 25 children (to later grow to 50) who are above 18 years in age. Till age 18, these children were students of Mamata Vidyalaya. Now since they are above 18 they cannot go to School. Engaging these children, Dr. Vaidya envisions to grow Seetaphal or Jojoba crop. The income coming out of this crop would be given to the individual children.

Dr. Vaidya is concerned that Amalner relies heavily on rains. Hence he is proposing that Drip Irrigation would be essential for the success of this project. They have been assured advice from Agriculturists and experts in Amalner to assist in this project at no cost.
Asha Seattle is still evaluating this proposal. The cost would involve, cost for constructing a shade (~Rs. 15,000) large enough to accomodate 10-15 beds, some medical equipments as epilepsy is common in these children, Cost of drip irrigation (~Rs. 15000 per acre), Basic tools needed for agriculture activities, cost of rent of equipment for agriculture activities
School for Mentally challenged children.

The institute provides:-
a) Free education to these children,
b) Enables them to avail of Govt. scholarship and
c) With the help of some generous donors offers them nutritive food.

The objectives of the institute are as follows :-
A) To educate these children in:
- formal education suitable for their intellectual abilities.
- Observing the general norms and manners of social behaviour.
- Some kind of vocational work.

B) To offer guidance to the parents/guardians of these children as regards their treatment/attitude to these children, and

C) To make efforts for the rehabilitation of the grown up students.


1. DR.(MRS.)AHSA VAIDYA AWARDED WITH“DALITMITRA PURASKAR” BY GOVT.
2. THE INSTIUTION AWARDED “BABASAHEBAMBEDKAR DALITMITRA PURASKAR”
3. OUR HEAD MISTRESS MRS. VIDYA JOSHI FELICITATED BY THE PRESIDENT OF INDIA WITH THE “NATIONAL AWARD FOR TEACHERS”
Mamata Vidyalaya is a school for Mentally challenged children. Savali Agriculture project is an experiment to engage the mentally challenged children above 18 years in agriculture activities and take care of the children for a lifetime.