Support the rehabilitation of a special needs child by Delhi Council for Child Welfare

Support the rehabilitation of a special needs child

Impact

Tajamul continues to grow despite his disabilities

Tajamul Shah is a disabled child from a poor family. His parents are rag pickers who earn Rs. 300 a month. That is all they have to support a family of four.

They live in a hut with no facilities and could not even provide Tajamul with basic growth and hygiene needs. They were not aware of how they could treat his physical and mental illnesses and had no money to change his fate.

Tajamul was brought to a Bal Chetna Outreach center when he was two years old. He could not walk or stand as his limbs were weak. He also had a problem with his right hand and could not speak well.

He went through a complete assessment after which the special needs staff treated him for rickets and anemia. Then they began his physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy and special education. The center also provided him with one nutritious meal and supplements suggested by our doctors to improve his immunity.

Three and a half years later, Tajamul can stand, walk and even run! He can speak and take part in group activities for up to ten minutes. He can control his hand movements well enough to connect dots and colour pictures.

These improvements have helped Tajamul live a better life. The amazing changes he has shown over the years has also made a positive impact on his parents.

You can change the lives of children like Tajamul by contributing towards their therapy, medicine and nutrition. You can give with confidence because every program on our platform is GIVEASSURED. A contribution from you can help more differently abled children like Tajamul get the care that they should.

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By donating to this program

You will be sponsoring the benefits for different beneficiaries every month


About The Program

What the beneficiary gets
Therapy
Nutrition
Healthcare
What you get
Tax Exemption
Periodic Reports
Program Description

Bal Chetna Outreach day-care and rehabilitation facility for mentally challenged children from poor families was established in 2002 to cater to the mentally challenged children. Surveys indicated that children with mental disabilities were not getting proper attention.

Bal Chetna Outreach has 4 centers and each center serves around 30 children. By providing specialized care, Bal Chetna facilitates the stimulation and development of special needs children, with the objective of making each child as self-reliant, competent and communicative as possible. Services include Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy, Music Therapy, Special Education, Speech Therapy, Psychological Evaluation, Vocational Training, Midday meal, Supplementary Nutrition, and Counselling for parents.

The multi-specialty team at Bal Chetna constantly improvise teaching aids and techniques to provide a variety of stimuli to the children. Bal Chetna children now participate in sports, act in plays, dance, and sing. Around 20 children from have been integrated into mainstream schools and in vocational training courses.

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About The NGO

Delhi Council for Child Welfare
Delhi Council for Child Welfare Logo
Delhi Council for Child Welfare

Delhi Council for Child Welfare started its work to provide care to the displaced, lost or abandoned children in the riots surrounding the Partition of India. It is an NGO that now provides services to the underprivileged children of Delhi and the neighboring regions to promote their health, development, economic and social wellbeing.

The most well-known programme of DCCW is Palna, home for the abandoned, homeless and destitute children. At Palna, infants arrive in a precarious state of health and the best possible medical care is given to them. It is a home to those children whose parents relinquish them or surrendered to them by the Police. DCCW works towards creating awareness on matters of basic health and hygiene, nutrition, pre-natal and post-natal maternal and childcare to the women in rural areas and urban slums. They also conduct programmes aimed at the education of children from underprivileged families.

The Orthopaedic Centre set by DCCW provides a complete range of rehabilitation services to physically disabled children, especially those affected by polio. More than 9,000 surgeries have been performed up to date and 25000 children have been fitted with polio aids. Their mission is to give every child the childhood they deserve.

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founders
Founded in 1991
NGO Leadership

Sandhya Bhalla

areas of operation
Area of Operation
Area of Operation

Mentally challenged | children

location of work
Location of Work
Location of Work

Delhi

Delhi Council for Child Welfare has

provided quality care to 2192 children in OPDs of hospitals

last audited
Last Audited
Periodic Compliance Checks by GiveIndia

Renewals FY 19-20

reporting
Verification Visit Reports
Verification Visit Reports

Verification Report 1

Verification Report 2

Program Updates

Program Updates

22 September, 2023

An update on the program you are supporting

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Activities and work undertaken in the last 5-6 months

Total number of beneficiaries impacted was 30 out of which 50% were females, in Delhi NCR


Challenges faced and next steps

As always, the regular routine of Palna continued with 24-hour care of all the children for whom Palna is home. There was some relief for the staff and children with the pandemic having eased, but all precautions were continued. There were 20 new arrivals during the period and more than half of them arrived with health issues / congenital disabilities. The special needs children require round-the-clock care and so the personnel necessary in terms of number of caregivers and nurses is very high. Currently there are 3 children requiring naso-gastric feeding. Between July and December 2022, Palna had 20 new arrivals, more than half of them arrived with health issues / congenital disabilities. Of the six children who went in adoption, one was a special needs child. Also, 6 of the older special needs children were transferred to other institutions more equipped for the care of older children.


Stories from the ground

Sonu was found abandoned in the cradle in 2014, as a 3 month old infant. He had several fractures in his limbs. He was diagnosed with Osteo Genesis Imperfecta Type- III (brittle bones), which leads to fractures even in regular everyday handling of the baby. He was taken to specialists in AIIMS for treatment, and was given a prognosis of just a few weeks. However, he has proved everyone wrong! Sonu is now 8 years old. The tendency of fractures has now greatly reduced. He continues under the regular treatment of AIIMS specialists with all necessary follow-up care at Palna. He attends classes in Palna � he is an extremely bright boy. He enjoys playing with the other children who always include him, but take enormous care to ensure that he does not get hurt. The staff are also very fond of him, and there are always volunteers to carry him around. He is curious by nature and wants to know about everything that is going on around him! He wants to grow up to be a policeman!


5 December, 2022

Enabling the specially-abled

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Activities and work undertaken in the last 5-6 months

Since the coronavirus pandemic started, the programme has been limited to residential children at our home PALNA, as logistic requirements have not allowed our day-care centres for special needs children to start functioning so far. About 27 special needs resident children ranging in age from newborn to fourteen years of age are cared for in every respect at PALNA. The team of specialists at Palna charts out a plan of rehabilitation for each child individually. Progress is obviously very slow and hard to quantify in a 6-month period, but the children are as comfortable as possible, and receive the utmost care, and it is rewarding to see every little achievement a child makes.


Challenges faced and next steps

We had an outbreak of covid-19 in January in Palna, which started from a child who had to be hospitalised periodically. This was the first time Palna was impacted since the pandemic started. The children with major disabilities were fortunately not affected. Even the children who were affected had absolutely no symptoms, but were monitored stringently during the isolation by the resident doctor and medical staff. All recovered with no after-effects. Palna was closed to the outside world for two weeks.


Stories from the ground

Madhavi was an unknown, newborn baby girl abandoned in the cradle at our gate in 2017. On arrival at PALNA, baby was around 2 weeks pre-term, with intra uterine growth retardation and in a very sick condition with septicemia. She was diagnosed with quadriplegic spastic cerebral palsy with delayed growth and milestones. During her first year she had recurrent episodes of pneumonia with acute respiratory distress for which she had to hospitalised multiple times. In Palna, Madhavi has been receiving regular physiotherapy and special education as part of her rehab, along with prescribed nutritional supplements. She is a bright happy child, and is now speaking in small sentences. She takes a little time in opening up to people. But once she opens up, then she keeps chattering. Madhavi tends to display her needs and wants like asking for water when thirsty. She shows good efforts in pulling herself up to sit, and can sit for long periods now, and can also stand on a standing frame. She always greets the staff with happy smiles and twinkling eyes.


2 June, 2022

Empowering the special needs child

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Activities and work undertaken in the last 5-6 months

Since the coronavirus pandemic started, the program has been limited to residential children at our home PALNA, as other children cannot come to our centers as per government guidelines. About 27 special needs resident children ranging in age from newborn to fourteen years of age are cared for in every respect at PALNA. Apart from the medical staff and caregivers, physiotherapists, special educators, speech therapists, and occupational therapists work with the children based on their individual needs to help them reach their potential.


Challenges faced and next steps

As mentioned above, since the coronavirus pandemic started, the program has been limited to residential children at our home PALNA. Other children cannot come to our centers as per government guidelines. Keeping the children safe during the pandemic has been a top focus area. Any hospitalized child is quarantined on return to PALNA and then has to have dedicated caregivers during that period to protect all the other children. This requires increased resources when many regular donors have not been able to assist as they usually do. Also, though the number of children received at PALNA has not seen a significant change, the proportion of special needs children has increased throughout the last year.


Stories from the ground

Avni was a newborn infant when received through the cradle at our gates in 2019. On her arrival, preliminary examination and investigation at our Medical Crisis Unit showed that she had a form of spinal Bifida and a knee joint deformity and will undergo surgery when the doctors think she is ready. The child has a global development delay with delayed speech and motor development. After being stabilized, Avni received very regular chest and limb physiotherapy, and our special educator has been working with her continuously. Today Avni responds well to social interaction, maintains eye contact, and smiles at people. She is much more attentive and alert and plays and interacts with caregivers present in the room. She responds to her name and can sit up on her own and remain sitting unsupported for long periods. Avni is doing well overall.


29 September, 2021

Every child deserves proper care

#6

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Activities and work undertaken in the last 5-6 months

Since the coronavirus pandemic started, the programme has been limited to residential children at our home PALNA, as other children cannot come to our centres as of now as per government guidelines. About 25 special needs resident children ranging in age from newborn to fourteen years of age are cared for in every respect at PALNA, including individualised therapies and interventions. Apart from the medical staff and caregivers, physiotherapists, special educators and speech therapists and occupational therapists work with the children based on each child’s individual needs. It is ensured that each child is as comfortable as possible, and receives all the care that he or she needs.


Challenges faced and next steps

Keeping the children safe during the pandemic has been a top focus area. Any child who is hospitalised is quarantined on return to PALNA and then has to have dedicated caregivers during that period, for the protection of all the other children. This requires increased resources at a time when many regular donors, corporate or individual, have not been in a position to assist as they normally do. Also, though the number of children received at PALNA has not seen a significant change, the proportion of special needs children has been higher throughout the last year.


Stories from the ground

Impact story:Garima arrived at PALNA through the cradle at our gate in March 2021. She was just about a year old infant. She was in a dehydrated, lethargic state and a preliminary examination at our Medical Crisis Unit revealed that she had spastic cerebral palsy with microcephaly and globally delayed milestones. Since she had difficulty swallowing, she was put on nasogastric feeding. A consultation at Lok Nayak hospital additionally recommended antiepileptic drugs. The baby is also being given physiotherapy to enable stretching of muscles and unsupported sitting, as well as chest physiotherapy. If she cries, she stops immediately from hearing the voices of other children or caregivers. Baby Garima is under special care at PALNA, stable on a liquid and light soft diet and nutritional supplements and being given regular nebulization. She has shown good weight gain and is stable.


23 March, 2021

Enabling special needs children achieve their potential

#5

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The period starting from April 2020 has been challenging for every organisation and individual, and it is has taken perseverance and effort to navigate through these times, while trying to run whichever programs and services that it is feasible to do in the circumstances.


Since the special needs children belonging to underprivileged families living in the slum and resettlement areas - whom we have been offering day-care and rehabilitation for many years - cannot attend our centres in accordance with the mandate of the Delhi government, we are currently restricting this program to special needs children resident at our home. Given that during the pandemic, the proportion of special needs children that are being received at our home, has significantly increased, their care and rehabilitation has been a major focus. Their therapists have been coming to work through the lockdowns, to ensure that the children receive these critical therapies, as discontinuity tends to make the children lose much of the progress they have made.


Among these children is little Madhavi, who is a bright little three-year old, with congenital cerebral palsy. With regular and individualised rehabilitation therapies and special education over the last two years, she is now stable and doesn’t fall ill as she used to. She can sit unsupported and can take a few steps on the parallel bar. She knows the names of everyday objects and her fine motor activities have improved. She is a social little girl and knows the names of the other children, ,and greets everyone with a smile. Another child is 5-year old Neeta, with hydrocephalus, who has been at our home for the last two years. She too has shown great improvement and loves playing with building blocks, and with the other children.
For each child there is an individualised development plan, including their nutrition, which is regularly evaluated, and changed as needed depending on .the child’s progress. The aim is to have each child achieve his or her potential



5 July, 2020

Complete care for the special needs child

#4

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Complete care for the special needs child




Our three day-care and rehab facilities for special needs children from economically backward families is part of our Bal Chetna programme. Parents are also required to attend the day care programme once a week by rotation to help with the sessions and more importantly, to learn the routine so that they can follow it at home. The multi-specialty team at Bal Chetna is constantly improvising upon teaching aids and techniques to provide a variety of stimuli to the children. Bal Chetna children now participate in sports meets and make handcraft items things like paper bags, candles and vases, which all help in improving their limb coordination. They also act in in plays, dance and sing.



19 November, 2019

The happiness amidst hardships

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The happiness amidst hardships







22 July, 2019

#2

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Program Update


Bal Chetna, our day-care facility for special needs children from economically backward families operates at 3 outreach centres in slums and resettlement colonies across Delhi. By providing individualised and specialised care, Bal Chetna facilitates the stimulation and development of special needs children, with the objective of making each child as self-reliant, competent and communicative as is possible. The children are also given a nutritious meal every day. There are regular medical check-ups by our doctors and special supplements as recommended by the doctor are given, as also any other treatment that a child may need. The progress of every child is tracked and monitored meticulously.


Story from the field


NAVNIT
Navnit is an 8-year old special needs child who joined our Bal Chetna Outreach Centre in October 2014. He belongs to an underprivileged family - his father works in a private factory and his mother is a homemaker. He has two elder sisters. He stays with his family in a small rented house.


At the time of joining, he was diagnosed with spastic diplegia and was unable to stand, had poor sitting balance, and was totally dependent on his mother for everything, including all activities of daily living.


With the multi-faceted physiotherapy and special education and nutrition that he receives at the centre, in just three months Navnit started sitting with minimal hand support and could perform hand-manipulation activities like pegboards, reaching for toys etc. Showing steady progress with the therapies he has been receiving, Navnit is now able to stand independently for several minutes without support and is able to walk with single hand support in parallel bar. He is performing well in both verbal and written functional academics, knows currency notes, safe touch, common things around us, practices social gestures and etiquette on his own initiative.


The difference in Navnit from the time he joined the centre to the present is enormous, much to his parent's' delight!


What is the expected total number of beneficiaries in this program for FY18-19?105
What is the number of beneficiaries/ benefits provided in this program, Year-To-Date100
Village/City/State where project is locatedDelhi
Total Budget for the project for FY18-194700000
Total Expenses for the project YTD4600000

23 May, 2019

#1

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Program Update


Bal Chetna, our day-care facility for children with special-needs from economically backward families operates at 3 outreach centres in slums and resettlement colonies across Delhi by providing individualised and specialised care. Bal Chetna facilitates the stimulation and development of these children with the objective of making each child self-reliant, competent and communicative as much as possible. The children are also given a nutritious meal every day. There are regular medical check-ups by our doctors. The progress of every child is tracked and monitored meticulously.


Story from the field


Ananya is a 9-year old child with special needs who joined our Bal Chetna Outreach Centre at Sultanpuri in August 2016. She lost both her parents and now lives with her maternal aunt and her two children, in a small rented accommodation. Her aunt is the only earning member of the family and supports the family on an income of about Rs 8000/- per month. At the time of joining our centre, Ananya was diagnosed with spastic cerebral palsy had poor speech, difficulty in standing and poor learning ability. She could communicate her basic needs through distorted speech. At the centre she has been undergoing multi-faceted physiotherapy, speech therapy, special education and behavioural counselling, and also getting good nutrition with necessary supplements. Ananya underwent surgical correction of lower limbs at our Orthopaedic centre followed by several sessions of physiotherapy, Now she is undergoing post-operative physiotherapy management at the Sultanpuri Bal Chetna centre itself. Ananya has been slowly but steadily showing improvement. Her socialization has improved and she now takes interest in class activities, and she has started maintaining basic oral hygiene. She is learning to brush her teeth. Her standing and short distance walking pattern, as well as speech articulation has distinctly improved. In academics she has started free hand scribbling with crayons. She is continuously doing much better on all fronts and is a happy child at the centre.


What is the number of beneficiaries/ benefits provided in this program, Year-To-Date100
Village/City/State where project is locatedDelhi
Total Budget for the project for FY18-19Rs 47 lakhs
Total Expenses for the project YTDRs 27 lakhs

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