‘Kho na jaaye yeh, Taare zameen par…’ #MentalHealthDay observed with a pledge to help mentally challenged children with healthcare, education and social integration M.B. Barvalia Foundation in Mumbai, of which I am a trustee, organized a memorable function today at its Special School in Ghakopar (East) to mark World Mental Health Day. The highlight of this year’s event was the presence of my dear friends from Germany and China. Michael Siebert, Consul General of Germany in Mumbai, his wife Gabriela and their daughter Alexandra graced the function. Also present was Ms. Lu Yanxia, who heads the India office of SEPCOIII, a major energy company in China. This company had given a generous donation to the Foundation in 2011. Our German and Chinese guests were overwhelmed by the outstanding work being done by the M.B. Barvalia Foundation, through its Spandan Holistic Institute, to provide both medical care and education for children with mental disabilities. Mothers with special children recounted how the Foundation − established by Dr.Praful Barvalia, a highly respected homeopath – has brought about incredible transformation in the lives of their children and, hence, in their own lives. In my speech, I likened these special children to ‘Taare Zameen Par’ (Little Stars on Earth), invoking the title of the landmark film by Aamir Khan that describes the life of a dyslexic child. “It is the responsibility of society and government alike to ensure ‘Kho Na Jaaye ye / Taare Zameen Par’ (Let us not lose these little stars on Earth, which is the title song in that film). Taking care of such children is not the responsibility of their parents alone. God has entrusted this responsibility on all of us.” Referring to the presence of the guests from Germany and China, I said, “This shows that humanism transcends national, religious, linguistic and racial barriers. Mahatma Gandhis favourite bhajan Vaishnava Janato Tene Kahiye Je/ Peed parayi jaane re tells us that truly religious or spiritual people are those who feel the pain of others. Our friends from Germany and China belong to this noble category. The Observer Research Foundation Mumbai (with which I am associated) and the M.B. Barvalia Foundation have jointly done two important research studies. One is titled ‘AN URGENT CALL TO IMPROVE MENTAL HEALTHCARE IN INDIA – A Case Study of M.B. Barvalia Foundation’s Commendable Work’, authored by Srua Srikrishnan. The other is ‘MUMBAI’S SHAME: How undernutrition and poor sanitation are stunting the growth of children in Mumbai’s structured and unstructured slums’, which is authored by my colleague Rachel D’Silva. Mr. Michael Siebert, who was the chief guest, appreciated the several presentations made by the doctors and professional volunteers of the Barvalia Foundation showcasing their other research studies, especially focusing on the condition of children in Mumbai’s slums. Dr. Praful Barvalia presented the salient aspects of an upcoming major Mother-and-Child Hospital that our Foundation is building in Deonar to provide holistic healthcare and educational services to special children. India is home to 20-30 million people living with various psycho-social disabilities and disorders, not all of which get reported. Sadly, the need to remedy this situation is largely neglected by government and society alike. THIS NEGLECT MUST END!
Posted on: Fri, 10 Oct 2014 12:24:45 +0000
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