Happy Birthday to 93 Children of Chetana Child Development Centre
Mangaluru: It was indeed a unique programme of celebrating the mass birthday of 93 special children belonging to Chetan Child Development Centre (CCDC), VT Road in Mangaluru. This celebration was organized as part of the closing ceremony of the academic year, and the main aim of this programme was to fulfil the desire of special children who have no option to celebrate their birthday in a grand way. The Management, staff and teachers of Seva Bharathi Trust (R), under which CCDC is run need to be complimented for their care and love towards these special children, thereby putting miles of smiles on their faces by celebrating their birthdays on a grand scale.
With a Mission to “Significantly contribute to providing quality comprehensive rehabilitation that facilitates a just equitable and humane society for all” CCDC believes “Don’t look at their disabilities, instead let’s build their abilities”. With advancement in science, understanding of the needs of children with disabilities has improved but essential support is very little. There are hundreds of having Cerebral Palsy, Mental Retardation, Autism and Multiple Disabilities who is poor and isolated with little chance to earn a living. Some are badly neglected, even by their own families. Being human, it is our utmost responsibilities to provide them with expert care, education and vocational training. In order to make to make them relatively self-dependent, CCDC aim is to give the children with disabilities the communication and daily living skills which will help them to lead full and active lives with the opportunities to find work and participate in their communities.
A vital part of CCDC work is a comprehensive rehabilitation of children with disabilities, raising awareness of persons with disabilities in various platforms, communities and encouraging them to take action to meet their needs. We focus on quality in every aspect of its functioning to bring equality and dignity in the lives of persons with disability. The team of specialists attending the assessment, intervention and counselling unit of “Chetana CDC”, consists of Paediatrician, Doctors, Homoeopathist, Physiotherapist, Speech Therapist, Psychologist, Special Educators, Music Therapist, Vocational Trainers, Physical Trainer, Volunteers etc… The Rehabilitation Council of India (RCI) (Ministry of Social Empowerment and Justice, Central Government) recognizes all our Special Educators. And every year since the inception of Seva Bharathi Trust in 1992, founded by Dr U V Shenoy, a Paediatrician and his wife Sumathi Shenoy, a social worker, the CCDC has celebrated the birthdays of the children together in a unique way- and this year too was no exception.
The chief guest for the occasion was Harish Baliga- DGM-CSR at MRPL, and guests of honor were Dr Rajeshwari Devi- DMO, Wenlock Hospital, Mangaluru Dr Bharathraj- Professor in Pediatrics at AJ Hospital, Mangaluru; Sumathi Shenoy- Founder Trustee of Seva Bharathi, and Supreetha, Headmistress of CCDC. The programme began with invoking God’s blessings through a prayer song rendered by a CCDC student. The 93 children of the Centre who had their birthdays this year were adored in a traditional way through arathi presentation, followed by distribution of “peda” sweet and an umbrella, all from love of the management, staff and teachers.
Addressing the audience, chief guest Harish Baliga said, ” We all need to compliment the tremendous work and care taken by the teachers towards these children, in developing their qualities and skills, and trying to reach them to greater heights. These children are just like us, and we should not show any discrimination against them. They are also part of the society, and they too are just like us, human beings. We need to encourage these special children and see that they too come up in their lives. Seva Bharath Trust and Chetan Child Development Centre are doing a yeoman service pertaining to these children with disabilities. I will try my best to support this organization with help from MRPL in the nearest future”.
Thirtha Kumari who had dedicated her four years as a teacher at CCDC was felicitated during the occasion, since she was leaving her job after getting married recently, to join her husband in Mysuru. The vote of thanks was proposed by Sheela, and the programme was compered by Sushma, both teachers ar CCDC. A ‘Smart Board’ Room was inaugurated by the dignitaries prior to the formal programme.
