Lokvishwas Pratishthan

Ref: DIR148

Type : School

Website : www.lokvishwas.org

Contact: Email Lokvishwas Pratishthan in Goa

Lokvishwas Pratishthan, Goa's first ever school for the deaf and dumb stands as an affirmation of a newspaper's social commitment and constructive work. Shri Narayan Athawale, who served as an editor during the nineteen-eighties, wrote an editorial on the plight of the blind people in Goa, in the Gomantak, way back in 1981. This generated an animated discussion among concerned citizens who felt the need to do something about the problems of handicapped people. As a sequel to this, a meeting was convened at the office of the Gomantak. Parents of handicapped children attended this meeting and decided to float a welfare organization for the handicapped children of Goa. The meeting also proposed that Gomantak, the newspaper that had championed the cause of the handicapped should come forward and take up the responsibility of raising funds and setting up the organization. This is how Lokvishwas Pratishthan, an organisation that believes in the initiative and generosity of the common man came into existence. The meeting also agreed upon a board of trustees comprising Shri Vaman Radhakrishna, Late Dr. Savlo Keni, Smt. Usha Kelkar and with Shri Narayan Athawale as its managing trustee. The next day, the Gomantak published an appeal seeking funds for the Pratishthan and, within a week, a sum of rupees thirty three thousand poured into the office of the Gomantak from different corners of Goa. It is noteworthy that, common people had a substantial share in the initial burst of charity.

Funds were, of course, necessary, but starting something quickly for the deaf and dumb children was more urgent. Hence it was decided to launch a school for the handicapped children out of the funds raised initially. Lokvishwas Pratishthan was registered as a charitable trust on 17th July 1981 and Goa's first residential school for deaf and dumb children was formally inaugurated on 16th August 1981 at the hands of Shri Jagmohan, the governor of Goa then. The school started in a small rented house with one teacher, Mrs.Vina Sovani, the mother of a deaf and dumb child.

Eighteen students were enrolled in the first year and the generosity of ordinary people supported the school for the first ten years, that is, from (1981 to 1991). In the meanwhile, the number of deaf and dumb children coming to the school increased creating a problem of space for the school. However, many came forward to help the cause of these handicapped children, notably some young girls, who attended a year's special training course in Pune for teaching deaf and dumb children. These trained teachers worked for a meager salary for Lokvishwas.

The Hard Work Rewarded
A decade of hard work and commitment finally bore fruits in 1991 when the Social Welfare Department of the Central Government gave grants to the hostel run by Lokvishwas. The same year, the Department of Education Government of Goa officially recognised the deaf and dumb school of Lokvishwas.

By the grace of Goddess Shantadurga, the Shantadurga Devasthan Committee gave a plot of land admeasuring 2583 sq. meters at Dhavali to the school on a thirty-five years lease. In the meanwhile, Shri Narayan Athawale retired from the Gomantak and went back to Mumbai. But he continued to work for Lokvishwas Pratishthan tirelessly. He laboured hard to give shape to Shri Shantadurga Krupashram, the organisation's project for the welfare of handicapped children. He was busy collecting funds for the same in Maharashtra and got a donation of four lakhs from Shri Sharad Pawar, who was the chief minister of Maharashtra then. This donation was used towards constructing a 360 sq. meter building with a projected cost of fifteen lakhs. The Bhumi Poojan ceremony of this new building was performed on 18th January 1991, at the hands of Shri Vishwas Joshi, himself a deaf and dumb young man who had passed out from the first batch of the school run by the Pratishthan. His Holiness Srimat Satchidanand Saraswati Swami of Kavale Math was present to bless the occasion. As the first phase of construction was over, the cultural minister of Maharashtra, Shri Pramod Navalkar inaugurated the complex on 24th May 1995.

The work of Lokvishwas got a shot in the arm when Shri Manohar Joshi, the Chief Minister of Maharashtra, gave it a donation of one lakh rupees. The gesture was eloquent as it meant that Lokvishwas had the blessings of the people of Maharashtra.


The Flood Of Support
Shri Balasaheb Thackre, the Shiv Sena Chief was aware of the role of the Pratishthan in serving the deaf and dumb children of Goa. He made a personal appeal to the people in Maharashtra to donate generously to the cause. The people responded by collecting a sum of ten lakhs for the Pratishthan. As a token of gratitude, the Board of Trustees decided to call its deaf and dumb residential school after Late Smt. Meenatai Thackre. The naming ceremony took place on 26th October 1997, when the foundation stone for the expansion project was laid in the presence of Shri Ramakant Khalap, the Minister for Law and Company Affairs, Government of India and Shri Narayan Rane, the Revenue Minister of Maharashtra.

The second phase of this construction was completed on 6th December 1998. A sum of thirty lakhs was spent on this work. People of Goa donated generously to this phase also. The contribution of three and a half lakh rupees from the Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Shri Gopinath Munde, and a sumptuous contribution of ten lakh rupees from Dayananda Chartitable Trust given by Smt. Shashikala Kakodkar, enabled the successful completion of second phase. The Board of Trustees decided to name the spacious conference hall of the building after Late Shri Sidharth Dayanand Bandodkar. The naming ceremony took place at the hands of Shri R.M.S. Khandeparkar, the high court judge of the Goa Bench, in the presence of Smt. Shashikala Kakodkar and her sisters.

The guardians of the handicapped children deeply wished for a Vocational Training Centre to begin in the school. The estimated cost of this centre was fifteen lakhs. Their wish was fulfilled when the Atmonnatti Charity Trust of Mumbai gave a substantial donation to Lokvishwas. The construction work for this building started in Shantadurga Krupashram and Bhumi Puja ceremony of the same was performed at the hands of Smt. Shashikala Kakodkar on 1st February 1998. The first phase of this building was completed in less that two years and the Vice President (Commercial) of Zuari Industries, Mr. J.H. Bharia inaugurated this part of the building on 25th October 1999.

The centre is now imparting training in Computer Operation, Stitching and Embroidery to its inmates. Apart from these vocational skills, the centre plans to start five more new streams of vocational training very soon. Atmonnatti Charity Trust has given a donation of ten lakhs and the Social Welfare Department of Goa has given a sum of two lakhs for this purpose.

Concern For The Deprived
In view of the demand made by the parents of mentally handicapped children, Lokvishwas has started educational facilities for these children also. Mrs. Suman Pednekar, the Director of Education, Goa, on 15th July 1999, inaugurated a classroom for such handicapped children. Today, forty mentally retarded children are taking the benefit of this facility. Lokvishwas wishes to give free training to these mentally handicapped children, but this requires specially trained teachers and the use of some special educational tools, both of which are quite expensive. The school, therefore, is compelled to charge a fee from the parents of such children. The Pratishthan is trying hard to get a government grant for this project and is looking for some private donors too, who could come forward to help this noble work.

As soon as the Pratishthan gets some benefactor for this project, the mentally handicapped children too will receive free training from the school. Under the circumstances, donors are requested to come forward and help generously for this project.

And Now :-
In response to our appeal, two eminent citizens of Goa now based in USA namely Mr. Iqubal Virani and Mr. Altaf Isani Donated their valuable contribution of Rs. 5 lakhs for naming the high school as Lokvishwas Pratishthan's VIRANI - ISANI HIGH SCHOOL FOR DEAF AND DUMB CHILDREN. The naming ceremony of the said school was held on 18th March 2001 at the hands of Shri Ramnath G. Kare, Chairman & Managing Director of Kare Group of Companies, Margao and in the presence of Shri Narayan Athawale, founder member of Lokvishwas Pratishthan. This timely support has enabled us to take future steps for the benefit of under privileged children of Goa.

Needless to say, all these activities require your cooperation and unstinted support. The task of Lokvishwas would have become easier, if it could have a permanent fund of about twenty five lakhs. In the past, people of Goa have given their love and reposed their trust in Lokvishwas. Today, its deaf and dumb school at Dhavali stands as a shining example of people's initiative in forging a meaningful social action. This indeed, is the noble commitment and to strengthen this, we look forward to your continued support in the future too.

There is no dearth of charitable people wishing to do some good turn to the suffering segment of the society. The problem, however, is to reach noble souls. The aim of this web site is to convey the good work that Lokvishwas is doing for the handicapped children of Goa and to get the necessary assistance from our patrons for the variety of welfare programs launched by the school recently. We visualise Lokvishwas to be competent, self sufficient and effective welfare organisation, committed to the cause of handicapped children. Whatever success we have achieved so far is nothing but the expression of love and affection showered on us by kind hearted people. We therefore appeal to all of you to come to our school at Dhavali with your friends and relatives, meet the children, see what they are learning there, and spread the good news of the noble work of Lokvishwas among your friends and relatives.