A Step Towards an Integrated Society in India

Today the entire world is working towards creating a society which accepts all persons as equals and provides equal opportunities to all. Deepshikha Institute for Child Development and Mental Health has been at the forefront of the movement to integrate persons with disabilities with mainstream society in Jharkhand since 1988. We have been training, motivating and empowering disabled persons to reach beyond their abilities and become useful members of society. Deepshikha (Deepshikha Institute for Child Development and Mental Health was formed in July 1988 with a vision of enabling the disabled. We are Jharkhands premier organization working in the field of disability. Our main activities are: 1) Day Care Centre: The day care center is our teaching and training facility for mentally challenged children. We currently have 50 students enrolled from Ranchi. 2) Out Patient Department: We have a full-fledged OPD which is equipped for physiotherapy, special education, clinical psychology and psychometry. Till date we have serviced over 4500 patients from Jharkhand, Bihar, UP and West Bengal. 3) Diploma in Special Education (MR): In association with NIMH, Secunderabad, we are offering a Diploma in Special Education (MR). 4) B.Ed. Special Education: In association with RCI and Bhoj University, M.P., we are offering a two year B.Ed. program focusing on special education. 5) Foundation course on disability: In association with RCI, we offer a three month course on disability for in service teachers. 6) Community Based Rehabilitation: Deepshikha started intervening in rural and remote areas through its CBR program. We have conducted block level community awareness programs on disability in 10 blocks and early identification and home based intervention programs in 4 blocks of Ranchi district. Community based rehabilitation programs are supported by Action Aid, India.

7) Integrated Education: The goal of this project was to integrate 100 disabled children in 28 schools in and around Ranchi. Initially a government program, it is now run voluntarily by Deepshikha. 8) Workshops: Deepshikha conducts orientation and training programs for professionals & government employees. On an average 2-3 such programs are conducted every month. 9) Extension Clinics : We have an extension clinic operational in Kanke block since 1994 and one in Namkum operational since 2003. About 2000 children with development delays have been identified and given intervention and referral services. The Namkum clinic is operational since 2003. 10) Identification Camps: 400 mental retardation and epilepsy cases were identified in Lohardaga, Bhurkunda and Buksar. 11) Community outreach programs: Deepshikha is conducting community outreach programs in Ranchi and surrounding areas. 12) Care Givers Training: Deepshikha imparts training for community rehabilitation workers.
13) Vocational Training Center: At Deepshikha, we are training MR children in file making, bag

making and screen printing. The vocational training center aims to train MR children to carry out productive activities independently.

Projects at Deepshikha

Web development, social media marketing and community awareness A professional website and a strong social media presence are essential for any organization today to establish credibility. This project would involve revamping Deepshikhas existing website, creating a system to facilitate regular updates and employing social marketing tools to expand Deepshikhas social media outreach. We are open to employing a professional to assist the students in the development if needed. Social media marketing would involve promoting Deepshikha on popular social networking platforms and tying up with organizations that could help us access new sources of funding. Community awareness would involve creating a positive brand value for Deepshikha. We would like to involve the Ranchi community in our activities and build new sources for funds and support.

Livelihood generations for disabled persons Deepshikha has several programs aimed at helping disabled persons earn a living. Students will be required to develop a strategy for generating the best possible returns from these programs and then execute it. The programs are: 1) Vocational Training Center: MR students are trained in skills like screen printing, marble printing, bag making etc. and the products made by students are marketed. IIM students will need to identify the kind of products that should be made by Deepshikha students to get the best returns and then partner with corporates and marketing agencies like ARUNIM to buy these products. 2) Computer Training Center: Deepshikha has a newly established computer training center that aims to impart free training to disabled persons. IIM students will need to

design a course module that would enable persons undergoing training to be employed as computer operators. Tie ups with organizations would be required to find jobs for candidates and to raise funds for running the program. Students interested in teaching can even join as instructors. 3) Utkarsh: Utkarsh is a shop on Deepshikha premises that sells used clothes to the locals. IIM students will be needed to design and execute a strategy for increasing the volume of business at Utkarsh and increasing its profitability. 4) Photography Workshop: In collaboration with ace documentary film maker, Mr. Meghnath, Deepshikha has started a photography and film making workshop for disabled persons. The first batch of 15 students completed the workshop in May. We need IIM students to devise innovate ways in which the persons completing the workshop can earn an income.

Sensitization of Managers We feel that there is a pressing need today to sensitize management students towards disability so that when they become corporate leaders in the future, they create an environment where there are equal opportunities for everyone. We would like IIM students to conduct a study on the feasibility of a small course module for sensitization of MBA students. Depending on the outcome of the study, Deepshikha would like to involve IIM Ranchi in the creation and distribution of such a course module.

Management Consulting Deepshikha would like to utilize IIM students to help resolve organizational problems and define policies.