The journey of Manav Kalyan Trust started in June 1970 by Shri Maheshbhai Kothari in the memory of his elder brother Pravinchandra Savjibhai Kothari at Dandi Road, Navsari from where our Father of Nation Shri Mahatama Gandhiji led the famous “Dandi March” in the year 1930. The foundation stone was laid by then President of India, Shri V. V. Giri on 21th June 1971. On completion of the complex construction, it was inaugurated by respected & renowned Saint Shri Morari Bapu.
Manav Kalyan Trust has always concentrated on Education Training and Rehabilitation of Disabled Childrens. The organization is having two special FREE Residential Schools at its complex named as “Mamta Mandir”.
- P.S Kothari Multipurpose School for Deaf
- M.S. Kothari Secondary School for the Speech and Hearing Impaired
In year 1992, Manav Kalyan Trust started a Free Residential Special School for Mentally Retarded(MR) students. The entire school complex is built based on Pyramid Therapy. It is first of its kind, probably all over the world. Along with Pyramid Therapy, the organization had made combination of other five therapies viz. Colour Therapy, Water Therapy, Respiration Therapy, Music Therapy and Physio Therapy. The main aim of combining these therapies is to utmost benefits for development of MR students. At present around 200 students are being trained in the “Balaji Multipurpose School for the Slow Learner(MR)”. Currently, the entire Spinning and Weaving Section of Training is managed by our trained MR students.
In year 2006, Manav Kalyan Trust visualized problems of poor tribal people of one of the most backward and poor Dist. Dang in State of Gujarat. Even in this 21st Century the tribal people are deprived of their basic necessities of life. Dang is a mountainous and forested area and receives maximum rainfall in entire state, but being a hilly region all rain water is drained away and the area experiences severe scarcity of water. Particularly in summer, people have to hunt for water and walk miles for a single pot of water. The population of Dang is having dietary deficiencies. The “expectant mothers” do not get proper food as a result the ratio of handicapped children is very high.
Thus after realizing the need to work for welfare of poor tribal people, Manav Kalyan Trust decided to spread welfare activities for people of this neglected Dang District of Gujarat. We planned an “Ambitious Project” of Free Residential School for 100 Blind and 500 Physically Disabled children of Dang region. Manav Kalyan Trust had started Free Residential School for Blind Children at Picturesque plot situated at the bank of river Ambica near village Shivarimal on the way to Hill Station Saputara. At present nearly 100 blind poor tribal children are being catered at this Free Residential School.
Our renowned donor Shri Dineshbhai and Sushri Rekhaben came to India in the beginning of year 2008. They were eager to visit our school for Blinds at village Shivarimal in Dang District, but at that time they were having very short time at their disposal. Hence the day, on which they came to visit our school complex at Navsari, we brought our students from school at Dang to Navsari. Shri Dineshbhai and Rekhaben were very happy to meet our blind students. They had few discussions with our students and their teachers. After interacting with our students and their teachers they decided to donate 1 lakh pounds for the development of school at Dang. It was a really a great blessing for us.
Government allocated us 6 acers of land for school building complex. Soon we arranged a Land Breaking Ceremony by our auspicious hands of Shri Dineshbhai and Sushri Rekhaben. After completing all official formalities it was decided to name our school after the parents of Shri Dineshbhai and Sushri Rekhaben. Thus the school was named as “Smt. Laxmiben Premchand Devraj Shah(Lakha Baval – Jamnagar) and Smt. Kanchanben Fulchand Lakhamshi Haria(Mithoi – Jamnagar) School for Blind Children” Dist. Dang – Gujarat.
Our former Hon. Governor of Gujarat Dr. (Smt) Kamla Beniwal layed the foundation stone at Foundation Stone Ceremony on 8th April 2010 for the school for blind children.
The students staying in the Free Residential School are provided with all the basic facilities needed by them. All the students are given computer training right from Std 4th onwards. After school hours they are provided with Karate Training so as to be able to defend themselves. The students are also participating in State Level as well as National Level Sports Competitions and other extracurricular activities.
Meet our Achievers
Thus our all the disabled students are trained for all round development and they are earning pride, not only for themselves but also for the institution during their education.
After completing their education, all the students are provided with pre-vocational training in the area of their choice. With the support of Khadi & Village Industries Commission(KVIC), the students are provided training in preparing fancy articles from Banana Fiber, Handmade Paper and Palm Leaves. Apart from this they are also given training for preparing Phenyl, Detergent Powders, Liquid Soap, Candles and Agarbattis. The students are also given training to work in Printing Press, Spinning and Weaving Section, Tailoring, Knitting, preparing Soft Toys, Handicrafts, etc. The students can choose his/her area of choice and can take training for two years. After training is completed they can work for two more years in the field of their interest. During that period lodging and boarding is free for them and also in addition they are provided with stipend. Thus they are prepared to join the main stream of the society.
The devotion and hard work of the trustees and people associated with the working of the organization makes the institute second to none, which can’t be compared with any such institution in other parts of the world. The Manav Kalyan Trust is the organization having the largest Free Residential School not only in Gujarat but probably all over India.
