VAANI and Pandua Pratibandhi Kalyan Samity
PPKS was established in 2001 primarily with the objective of working with malnourished children. During the course of work several children with disabilities were identified. PPKS began to organize intervention programmes for them. PPKS’ central office is housed in a building given to them on a minimal rent by a gentleman whose father was deaf. At present it works in 2 GPs in Pandua block - Pandua and Gram Boinchi.
In the Gram Panchayat of Pandua, there are about 103 children with disabilities 10 of whom have hearing impairment and are below the age of 14. Intervention programmes for children with disabilities are also conducted at the PPKS centre on 4 days a week. The largest number are in the MR group. PPKS has 8 teachers and a psychologist who conducts counselling sessions for parents. A new centre is being set up in Boinchi and 15 children disabilities under age 14 have been identified here, of which 5 are deaf.
PPKS also runs vocational training classes in tailoring, embroidery and making jute articles. However, they have no marketing strategy in place yet. Two deaf youngsters have , however, been placed in employment. One as a tailor. She earns Rs. 3000 per month and one as a carpenter in a local furniture manufacturing unit.
PPKS workers visit the homes of beneficiaries once a week.. These visits enable Hasan and his team to provide timely intervention in case of any difficulties faced by the children and their families. PPKS has developed stable linkages in the community and is able to help out families in distress through neighbours and by helping with food and clothes which they collect from the community , especially from grocery owners and cloth merchants. PPKS is also planning to set up small centres near the homes of the beneficiaries who find it difficult to come to the main centre. Home management would be considered for beneficiaries who cannot commute to the centres.