It
was surprisingly good. Though it took more time than it should have, as we were
logged out of Delhi for this project or that assignment, when it finally came,
it was simply up to the expectations of a place we were looking for Geeta to be
relocated to.
Geeta
needs a place where people of her age (in 20’s) with physical and mental
disabilities can be trained to carry on with their day-to-day lives in proper
way as well as can be imparted with some vocational training to earn some
livelihood to sustain themselves reducing dependence on others.
I
was pinning some hope on the meeting as Dr. Puri was recommended by Sai Padma,
a prominent disability activist and a good friend. Dr. Puri assessed that Geeta
was fit case for rehabilitation and could be trained in three months to lead
her day-to-day life independently. Now
to get it done, we had to get approval from Geeta’s family and Dr. Bhagat,
caretaker of the old-age home where Geeta is currently in. But before that, we
wanted to visit the facility/hostel where Geeta was to be given lodging.
It
was a decent 2-BHK accommodation in Roopnagar, near North Campus of the Delhi
University. The facility has means to accommodate nine students like Geeta. At
present, there are seven students – four boys and three girls – in the hostel
as told by Dr. Puri. Boys and girls are kept in separate rooms.
The
living accommodation looked quite good with comfortable beds, separate and
clean bathrooms, a good functional kitchen, television and recreation games
like carom. A house mother stays with the students throughout. Breakfast is
prepared and served in the hostel while lunch and dinner are cooked in
organization’s Shaktinagar centre. Students are taken to the centre from the
hostel at 9 AM, have training, classes and lunch there. They spend the whole
day at the centre and are taken back to the hostel again in the evening where
they are served dinner. Sunday is off-day and family members or legal guardians
can take their dependents out.
At
Rs. 10000 a month for three months, we found it logical. This much can easily
be funded on any given day. This visit finalized our decision to relocate Geeta
to the place.
Now
we need to take approval from her family and Dr. Bhagat. Dr. Bhagat is happy about
this initiative. Geeta’s family should not be any problem either as they have
already abandoned Geeta to the Badarpur old-age home. The tedious job would be
the documentation part as Geeta needs a disability certificate from a
government hospital. Then there are other documents related to her guardianship
and affidavits from her family.
Anyway,
we will get it done. By the next month, we expect Geeta will begin the real
journey to meet her new life where she would be able to find company of her
co-age people as well as care of a sensitive and learning atmosphere.
It
makes sense.