Vatsalya helps to ‘draw’ in specially abled children

Nagpur: Under the aegis of ‘Vatsalya’, an initiative by SVN Shikshan Sanstha, an NGO that looks after the needs of specially-abled children and University Women Association, Nagpur chapter (UWAN) organized a painting workshop in order to teach those children basics of block printing and make them self-sufficient by generating employment.
The two-day workshop commenced on Friday at LAD College’s Shankar Nagar campus where 20 children, who suffer from disabilities such as cerebral palsy, down syndrome, mental retardants, attention deficit hypertension disorder (ADHD), clinical autism and partial visual disability, took part along with their parents, learning the basics of block printing from the departmental head of fashion designing at LAD College Harsha Jharia and her students.

“Many textile industries use block printing for styling dupattas, saris and bedcovers as it is beautiful, bold and fairly simple to make. After a few days of fundamental training, I am certain that these children will acquire skills and would generate a sizeable revenue,” said Jharia.

“Our NGO has been working tirelessly for over 10 years now for sensitizing general public towards the needs of these children and we are taking it a step forward with ‘Vatsalya’ by providing them with means of earning their own income,” said NGO founder Gayathri Vatsalya.

“It is equally important for people with special abilities to become self-sufficient and hence we are collaborating with LAD College and UWAN. Currently it is just a preliminary step to know their inclination towards the art. If this workshop is successful, we will set up a production unit where artefacts designed by our children will be made and sold, thus helping them,” she added.

The funds for this workshop was provided by Vinaybala Mehta, a philanthropist and member of UWA Pune Chapter in the name of her late mother Sulochana Brijlal Mehta.

“My mother and siblings were associated with Nagpur and LAD college is my alma mater as well. This donation is a token of my gratitude for this institution and it fills me with a deep sense of contentment to see such enthusiastic children participating and money being put to such good use. I hope more students get benefited from the funds. My own grandson is suffering from cerebral palsy and hence I have a deep understanding of the importance of this workshop,” said Mehta.