ASARE- Home to the 'Special Ones'

ASARE after completion || Photo By Suraj C

Manipal- Asare, a joint venture between the Manipal group of industries and Archana trust was inaugurated on Jun 15th. The home for the mentally challenged is estimated to have cost a whopping 80 lakh rupees, but the care and opportunity it has provided is priceless.

Speaking on the change in attitude of the society towards mentally challenged people, K S Jaivittal, Estate Officer, MAHE and President, Archana Trust said, "They do not need sympathy but must be provided an opportunity". A proud father to Archana (23), a specially abled child and participant in several national special Olympics, K S Jaivittal is averse to the usage of the word disabled and instead would like people to term them as ‘specially abled’.

In a span of just a month, Asare has made its presence known and has received queries and applications from Mysore, Dharwad, Hubli and other places in Karnataka. As its responsibility to ensure education and counseling of patients of school going age, Asare aims to build a school that caters to the special needs of these students and has requested the state government for funds. It also proposes to launch its official newsletter and periodical to harness the creative talent of its inmates and to generate public awareness.

Pallavi(30), initially found life at Asare difficult. Suffering from mental and vocational disabilities, she was dependant on her parents. Performing simple chores, eating or even applying toothpaste on her brush posed a problem for her. Her disability had come across as a matter of concern and burden for her parents and something to be pitied and sympathized by the society. A month since her inception at Asare, her parents called her and were received by a voice that resonated confidence; it stammered and stumbled upon words but spoke sans inhibition. It was a new Pallavi -one that Asare had nurtured. It had given her a voice and made sure it was heard.

Set amidst lush greenery near the KMC quarters, the home boasts of state-of the-art infrastructure and facilities such as gym, library, audio visual room, play rooms and well maintained lodgings. It also promotes training of special educators for teaching and training of persons with mental retardation, autism, cerebral palsy and multiple disabilities.

The most creditable achievement of Asare however, has been the development of a bond and sense of co-operation amongst its occupants. "At Asare, it is like a large family where everyone contributes. My daughter Archana has just learned to operate the coffee machine at Asare and makes it a point to brew a cup for any visitor. She loves her new found independence" said K S Jaivittal. Every patient is encouraged to perform tasks like maintaining personal hygiene and cleaning ones clothes with the help of washing machines.

Archana Trust in collaboration with Manipal Group of Industries in near future plans to undertake research in fields related to mental retardation, cerebral palsy, autism and multiple disabilities. Through its proposed child development clinic for the mentally handicapped, Asare aims to identify high risk neonates in need of early stimulation and provide them with developmental assessment by renowned pediatricians, behavior modifications, IQ tests, speech therapy and parental counseling.

Asare intends to involve the general public as an active participant and urges them to co-operate, guide and assist the various programs of the trust. Their official website www.archanatrust.org , developed by Tech Epsilon, a Manipal based web-development company was launched on Jul 19th.The website provides a platform for the general public and facilitates awareness and involvement of the public for donations and sponsorship schemes. One can also contribute towards the building development fund through DD/Cheque made in favor of -

Archana Trust, A/c no. 144401011000192 (Vijaya Bank, Manipal branch).

Donors may also sponsor the mentally challenged (above 20 years of age) for their comfortable living at Asare by contributing Rupees Two lakh, Five lakh and Ten lakh for sponsoring three years, ten years and life time respectively. So come forward and contribute to a ‘special’ cause.

Subedited by- Kimberley Tanya Dias