{"id":2504,"date":"2020-10-28T00:18:12","date_gmt":"2020-10-28T00:18:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/poliochildren.org\/?page_id=2504"},"modified":"2020-12-22T12:24:58","modified_gmt":"2020-12-22T12:24:58","slug":"india-home","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/poliochildren.org\/india-home\/","title":{"rendered":"India home"},"content":{"rendered":"

India<\/h1>\n

Our locations<\/h3>\n\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n <\/a>\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n
<\/div>\r\n \r\n \r\n \n

Jodhpur<\/h2>\n

\"Two<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Education<\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/h2>\n

Primary and Secondary Education<\/strong><\/p>\n

In 2002, when Rajasthan experienced a severe drought, SKSN had crowds of people waiting outside its door who wanted to enroll their <\/span>severely <\/span>disabled children into the program. <\/span><\/span>Families were unable to provide for all its members. Moreover, disabled children are often seen as a burden and are typically the first to be abandoned during dire times. <\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

\"Class<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Class time for primary school students<\/p>\n

\"Graduating<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Graduating Class of 2010.<\/p>\n

Knowing these children would be left abandoned to a life of neglect and misery, Polio and Children in Need Charity (PACINC) expanded its efforts at SKSN to take in more children.  <\/span><\/span>This included expanding its <\/span>boarding facilities and education programs.<\/span>  SKSN<\/span> i<\/span>ncreased its pupils\u2019 roll from around 220 to 450 with the construction of a purpose<\/span> <\/span>built hostel for disabled girls funded entirely by Polio and Children in Need Charity. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\"Polio<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Polio and Children In Need Charity students proudly displaying their kabaddi champion trophy<\/p>\n

\"Arun<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Arun Patel, Co-founder of Polio and Children In Need Charity, with kabaddi champions from Polio and Children In Need’s school<\/p>\n

All children were given school bags making it easier for them to carry their school supplies when going to school.  This is of critical importance since most students are severely disabled.<\/span><\/p>\n

  <\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

University Education Fund<\/h3>\n

\"University<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

University Education Fund – The premier batch of students on their way to college. Many in the subsequent batches were fortunate enough to receive motor scooters.<\/p>\n

Soon after Polio<\/span> Children first became involved in the activities at SKSN in 2002, it became evident that <\/span>zero<\/span> opportunities existed for the children to pursue education beyond high school. We <\/span>recognised<\/span> that provisions would need to be put into place<\/span>;<\/span> <\/span>otherwise<\/span>,<\/span> the pool of talent of these physically handicapped but mentally astute children would go to waste.<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

\"Class<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Class of 2019<\/p>\n

 C<\/span>ommitted to our mission of ensuring that every one of them would have the same opportunities as any able-bodied child, and that the ultimate goal would be full integration into the mainstream of the <\/span>society <\/span>as well as equal employment and earning opportunities.<\/span> <\/span>Polio and Children in Need Charity now seeks to pay full tuition for those students who qualify and desire <\/span>a u<\/span>niversity<\/span> <\/span>e<\/span>ducation.  <\/span><\/p>\n

\"Gold<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Gold medalist Jeetu receiving her Master’s degree<\/p>\n

Gold medalist Jeetu receiving her Master’s degree and her…………………………<\/p>\n

\"<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

gold medal<\/p>\n

There was also an additional challenge in that most of the students who qualified for these scholarships were coming from rural areas and hence had to be accommodated in the city (mainly Jodhpur) where all the universities are located.<\/span> <\/span>Many students for the first time in their lives had to adjust to living in the \u201coutside world<\/span>,<\/span>\u201d i<\/span>.<\/span>e<\/span>.<\/span> without the comfort and protection of their home or <\/span>the <\/span>SKSN environment<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

This is a big step forward in<\/span> their personal and academic development<\/span> equipping these young adults<\/span> with tools that w<\/span>ill<\/span> move them from dependence to interdependence, from ostracism to acceptance, and from being viewed as a burden to being a valuable member of society.<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

\"University<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Anuradha, PACINC’s first medical school graduate outside her hospital.<\/p>\n

While the cost of education in Rajasthan is way lower than in the West, supporting scores of students adds up to a significant sum. <\/span>Polio and Children in Need Charity actively and continuously seeks to help those children who are marginalized to aim higher and beyond their physical limitations.  <\/span>Consequently, we set the qualification mark 10% higher than the community standard of 50% and all applicants would have to undergo a means test. <\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

Library<\/h3>\n

\"Busy<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Busy hour in the school’s first-ever library<\/p>\n

In 2013, Polio and Children in Need Charity <\/span>introduced the much<\/span>–<\/span>needed culture of reading by <\/span>establish<\/span>ing an<\/span> on<\/span>–<\/span>campus lib<\/span>rary<\/span>. It was<\/span> stacked with more than 1200 books for the benefit of 450 primary and secondary school<\/span><\/span> students.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Computer Learning Centre<\/h3>\n

\"Computer<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Computer Learning Center – Girls using a computer for the first time<\/p>\n

Established in 2009, the center is equipped with 50 computers and provides introductory courses in basic computer and keyboard usage skills for over 350 <\/span>students ranging in ages from seven to 18 years old. <\/span><\/span>Eventually, the center will provide training to the children in software development and computer repair.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Clean Water & <\/span><\/span>Nutrition<\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n

Children rejoicing as water spurts from the first-ever bore well drilled on the school campus.<\/p>\n

P<\/span>olio and Children in Need Charity (P<\/span>ACIN<\/span>C<\/span>)<\/span> has long been involved in making sure children in need are well nourished.  Proper nutrition <\/span>and good health are<\/span> centra<\/span>l to a child\u2019s we<\/span>llbeing.  T<\/span>hree health projects <\/span>were<\/span> established at<\/span> <\/span>the <\/span>S<\/span>ucheta <\/span>K<\/span>riplani <\/span>S<\/span>hiksha <\/span>N<\/span>iketan<\/span> (SKSN)<\/span><\/em> in <\/span>Jodhpur, Rajasthan, the largest boarding school for physically handicapped children in India<\/span>. <\/span>Each project was aimed at <\/span>nourish<\/span>ing<\/span> the children for a healthy and stronger tomorrow.<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

Tube Well<\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n

Serving the community–water fountain benefitting both both the students and locals<\/p>\n

SKSN is located on the edge <\/span>of the Thar Desert and is no stranger to long periods of drought. <\/span> <\/span>In 2003, after <\/span>having <\/span>received <\/span>little rain <\/span>for five year<\/span>s<\/span>, the state government officially declared the region a drought area. <\/span> At times, drinking water <\/span>was<\/span> <\/span>i<\/span>n short supply and <\/span>temperatures in sum<\/span>mer often soar<\/span>ed<\/span> beyond 42 <\/span>C (108 <\/span>F).<\/span> <\/span> <\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/span>Polio and Children in Need Charity (PACINC)<\/span><\/span>funded the drilling, building, and overall engineering of a tube well and water generator that supplies c<\/span>lean water for SKSN<\/span> year round. <\/span>It is also is the primary source of irrigation for the school\u2019s agriculture plots and also supplies fresh drinking water (<\/span>piau<\/span>) to the students and the pilgrims passing by.<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

Dairy Farm Project<\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n

Learning how to milk cows – and achieve self-sufficiency<\/p>\n

Along with ensuring a <\/span>reliable supply of milk and dai<\/span>r<\/span>y produce<\/span>, the Dairy Farm Project, <\/span>piloted in 2003, <\/span>trained<\/span> students <\/span>on <\/span>animal husbandry and dairy farm management<\/span>.<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

Ghee & Milk<\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/h2>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Young girls enjoying a glass of milk in the evening – PACINC’s very first project<\/p>\n

In order to improve the basic health of the students, a <\/span>two-month <\/span>pilot project to include <\/span>ghee<\/span> (clarified butter) and milk in their diet was introduced. This proved to be a big success with decimation of children\u2019s illnesses and<\/span> <\/span>improvement in their overall health.  Based on these results, a Dairy Farm project was commissioned to<\/span> <\/span>include ghee and milk in their daily diet.<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

HealthCare<\/h2>\n

Mobility Aids<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"A<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

A girl in calipers and on crutches makes her way to the playground.<\/p>\n

\"Girls<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Girls enjoying racing their new wheelchairs in the school corridors<\/p>\n

\"Come<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Come on! Give it a push!<\/p>\n

A<\/span>ll <\/span>children at SKSN have <\/span>some kind of physical handicap \u2013 ranging from <\/span>paraly<\/span>sis<\/span> due to polio<\/span> to traumatic amputation of a limb<\/span>.  In order to facilitate their mobility, Polio and Children in Need Charity<\/span><\/span> has provided <\/span>mobility aids,<\/span> specifically <\/span>wheelchairs and crutches<\/span>,<\/span> for children to move around, <\/span>to engage in <\/span>play, and to interact with others. <\/span><\/p>\n

\"Equipped<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Equipped with new crutches these 3 girls for the first time leave behind<\/p>\n

\"Appreciating<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Appreciating donations of wheelchairs and other mobility aids.<\/p>\n

Providing such aids not only helped restore the dignity of these children as they no longer had to crawl on their hands and knees to get around<\/span>. <\/span><\/span>B<\/span>ut they were also able to move with ease between classes and their dorms a<\/span>s well as<\/span> socialize at the on-campus temple and on the playground.<\/span> <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\"Arun<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Arun Sangave, Treasurer, PACINC (USA) inspects handicapped-modified scooters donated for college-bound students.<\/p>\n

\"Arun<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Arun Patel of Polio and Children In Need Charity Co-founder handing over motor scooters to the college bound girls<\/p>\n

Later when the students moved off-campus to pursue higher education, many of them were provided with specially equipped motor scooters <\/span>allowing them <\/span>to <\/span>commute<\/span> to college without having to rely on public transport, which is not handicap-friendly. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Orthotic and Prosthetics Workshop<\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/h3>\n

\"Apprenticeship<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Apprenticeship in the Orthotic and Prosthetic Workshop<\/p>\n

In addition, <\/span>in 2004 <\/span>Polio and Children in Need Charity<\/span> set up a <\/span>prosthetics workshop<\/span> where artificial limbs <\/span>and crutches <\/span>are produced, refitted, and repaired.<\/span>At the lab, interested students are given the opportunity to gain vocational training on how to make and repair prosthetics.  <\/span>Within <\/span>two years, the la<\/span>b was fully run by students under the supervision of a <\/span>former student of SKSN.<\/span><\/p>\n

The nearest medical facility from SKSN is about<\/span> 28kms (<\/span>17 miles<\/span>)<\/span> away.  Every day, at least 20 to 30 children need <\/span>medical attention<\/span> for <\/span>checkups<\/span>, follow-<\/span>ups, or illness. <\/span>Polio and Children in Need Charity <\/span><\/span><\/span>paid<\/span> for a school nurse who <\/span>attend<\/span>ed<\/span> to the children on site. <\/span> In addition, the charity covered<\/span> costs related to transportation to the clinic as well as medical fees for visiting the doctor<\/span>, hospital visits, and medical prescriptions.<\/span><\/p>\n

  <\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

On-Site Medical Care<\/span><\/span><\/strong> <\/span><\/p>\n

Ambulance<\/h3>\n

In <\/span>2004<\/span>,<\/span> <\/span>Polio and Children in Need Charity funded the purchase of <\/span>an ambulance<\/span>.  The <\/span>nearest <\/span>hospital is 28 kilometers away <\/span>and public transport<\/span>ation is <\/span>unavailable. <\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

Bintu’s Story<\/h4>\n

\"Bintu<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Bintu would hand drive this tricycle 4 km each way from her home to the college<\/p>\n

\"Bintu<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Bintu emerges from her 2nd floor apartment to go to college.<\/p>\n

\"Bintu<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Bintu is thrilled with her new motor scooter<\/p>\n

Vocational Training<\/h2>\n

\"Busy<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Busy in a sewing class<\/p>\n

\"Learning<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Learning cutting techniques in a tailoring class<\/p>\n

\"Receiving<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Receiving instructions in a sewing class<\/p>\n

In order to become self-sufficient and contributing members of the local community, Polio and Children in Need Charity <\/span>has established <\/span>a<\/span> vocational traini<\/span>ng centre where students learn<\/span> skills and trades native to their localities.<\/span> <\/span>A sewing and alterations centre <\/span>was set up to provide<\/span> training to<\/span> those students who did not qualify for higher education.<\/span><\/span>Th<\/span>e training center prepared <\/span>participating students the opportunity <\/span>to <\/span>earn<\/span> wages as <\/span>independent tailor<\/span>s<\/span> or <\/span>to work <\/span>for <\/span>clothing manufacturer<\/span>s<\/span>.<\/span> <\/span>Between 2005 \u2013 <\/span>2009<\/span>, <\/span>4<\/span>0 girls received training from the center. <\/span> <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Infrastructure<\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n

Girls Hostel<\/span><\/span><\/strong> <\/span><\/p>\n

In order to accommodate <\/span><\/span>physically handicapped <\/span><\/span>female<\/span><\/span> students<\/span><\/span> who were <\/span><\/span>traveling from far and remote distances<\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/span>with no <\/span><\/span>available <\/span><\/span>public transport facilities<\/span><\/span>, <\/span><\/span>Polio and Children in Need Charity (PACINC) funded<\/span><\/span> and built a<\/span><\/span>n on-campus<\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/span>dedicated <\/span><\/span>hostel<\/span><\/span>.  <\/span><\/span>Constructed at a cost of \u00a3113, 659 ($171,625), the 140-bed <\/span><\/span>hostel <\/span><\/span>opened on July 1, 2004<\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

\"opening<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Opening ceremony of the girls hostel<\/p>\n

\"Girls<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Girls making their way to classes from their 140-bed hostel<\/p>\n

The hostel provides a safe place for the girls to call home.  <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>They have thrived here<\/span><\/span>, <\/span><\/span>both mentally and physically. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span> In <\/span><\/span>2005<\/span><\/span>, the girls won 15 gold medals when they participated in the UK Disability Sports competition!<\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Power Generator<\/h3>\n

\"Power<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

One of the first observations during our initial visit to SKSN was that<\/span> the students <\/span>were unable<\/span> <\/span>to study <\/span>after dark because power supply<\/span> was erratic and always in short supply<\/span>. <\/span><\/span><\/span>So Polio and Children in Need Charity(PACINC) undertook the installation of<\/span> a diesel power generator <\/span>that <\/span>not only <\/span>made <\/span>night study possible but also allowed <\/span>for <\/span>smooth <\/span>and consistent <\/span>operation of <\/span>water pumps and <\/span>other facilities such as <\/span>the computer l<\/span>earning center and the library<\/span>.<\/span> <\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

En<\/span><\/span> Suite Bathrooms for Severely Crippled Children<\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/h3>\n

\"Children<\/a><\/span>\"\"<\/a><\/span>\"Children<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

In 2005, <\/span>e<\/span>n<\/span> <\/span>suite bathrooms were built for <\/span>over 90<\/span> <\/span>of the most handicapped children so that they no longer ha<\/span>d<\/span> to crawl across 50 yards of a rubble strewn cour<\/span>tyard for their daily wash.<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

\"Children<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Farm Equipment<\/h3>\n

\"Harvesting<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

In 2004, PACINC provided funds for the purchase of a tractor to assi<\/span>s<\/span>t the school\u2019s vocational training project in small-scale farming.<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

Fixtures and Fittings<\/h3>\n

\"Low<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Low row rise dining tables to accommodate those with physical disabilities and in accordance with the traditional Indian way of having meals.<\/p>\n

\"Students<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Students in the furnished and refurbished dining hall<\/p>\n

<\/span>In 2009, the<\/span> dining halls<\/span> were furnished with handicap-accessible furniture so that<\/span> the children <\/span>no longer <\/span>had to squat in the corridors to have<\/span> their meals from plates placed on the floor<\/span>.<\/span> <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

India Our locations Jodhpur Education  Primary and Secondary Education In 2002, when Rajasthan experienced a severe drought, SKSN had crowds of people waiting outside its door who wanted to enroll their severely disabled children into the program. Families were unable to provide for all its members. Moreover, disabled children are often seen as a burden and are typically […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/poliochildren.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2504"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/poliochildren.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/poliochildren.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/poliochildren.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/poliochildren.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2504"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/poliochildren.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2504\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/poliochildren.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2504"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}

\"Children<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

\"Learning<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

\"Serving<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

\"Children-rejoicing-as-water-spurts-from-the-first-ever-bore-well-drilled-on-the-school-campus\"<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n