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Satish Dhall, chief executive of Hindustan
Lever’s plantation division, noticed a handicapped
child left at home while his parents were working
in a tea garden. He realised that other such
children were left at home, too, and that they
needed help to grow up as self-reliant people
rather than a burden on their families. These
families had received no help previously. There was
no relevant centre in the area.
He also realised that his company had the
resources to help. Employees were consulted about
what the needs were. The result is Ankur (which
means ‘seedling’), a special education centre for
64 handicapped youngsters at Doom Dooma, Assam. It
opened in 1993 and caters for any seriously
handicapped five to 18-year-olds living in the
area. Newspaper advertisements recruited youngsters
from outside the tea gardens.
How do you find teachers for such a school in a
remote rural area? It turned out that wives of
tea-garden staff had hidden potential. Mrs Anima
Barua, wife of a field manager, took charge as
co-ordinator and trainer, unpaid. She has completed
a training programme at the Indian Institute of
Cerebral Palsy and visited centres in Britain.
There are two other full-time volunteers.
Two teachers, paid by the company, have
completed courses with the Spastic Society of
Eastern India, whose specialists make annual
advisory visits to Doom Dooma.
Ankur has youngsters with impaired sight or
hearing or other physical handicap, youngsters
disabled by cerebral palsy or polio, youngsters
with learning difficulties. They get free transport
to Ankur, free meals and medical care, and free
appliances to help them walk. All have made
progress and become more independent. Two have gone
on to ordinary school.
The Ankur pupils acquire some literacy and take
part in recreation. There are different classes for
the deaf and physically handicapped, the poorly
sighted, and the retarded. Older pupils learn
skills which can earn them income: cookery,
needlework, crafts with bamboo and jute, tie and
dye printing, painting. This helps to win them
acceptance within their families.
Local people have been encouraged to take an
interest through open days and an exhibition and
sale at the planters club.
Hindustan Lever has set up a similar centre
called Kappagam (shelter) at Valparai, South
India.
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