A giant step for mankind

Four Steps, a social service organization, helps handicapped children

Says Debapriya Bhattacharjee

MANJALI paints very well and is also a good dancer who has given a number of performances all over Delhi. Trisha loves to be in her new school, her best friend is her dance teacher madhulika. Aditya sings very well. Bunty is a good player of tabla. Wondering who they are? They are all a part of Four Steps, a school for mentally challenged children. It was founded by Jayanti Dalmia and Sangeeta Khandelwal who are mothers of mentally challenged children themselves. “Lack of proper and special care in normal schools for our children, brought both of us together to open a school for them,” says Jayanti Dalmia.

Four Steps is a part of the Dalmia Seva Trust, an organization associated with several philanthropic and social activities, with a motto ‘Where the head is held high.’ This organization came into being last year and was formed with an intention of empowering mentally challenged children towards integration and self-realisation with special care for each and every child. Four Steps is a rehabilitation, research and training centre for children with special needs. The four steps of this organization are: early intervention centre; special school; pre-vocational and vocational; and our creative would. Besides these love, care, understanding and progress are other goals set up by this organization.

Dr. P.R.Kucheria who is a member of the advisory committee said, “Six per cent of the population is born with Down’s syndrome which is a genetic disorder.” On how this deformity can be checked Jayanti adds, “If the children are taught right from childhood, then their deformities can be checked from further deformation.”

To motivate the parents of mentally challenged children to send their wards to such schools they usually conduct one to one sessions with the parents. They work according to the child’s interest and teach him/her the area of their interest. Mr. Kapil Sharma who teaches drama in Four Steps says “For normal children dance and drama are a part of fun but for these special children it really helps as it gives them a chance to express themselves.” Aditya (12) can hardly stand straightly or move his face since he has a deformity in both his legs and also his neck. According to Mukesh Manocha special educator and vocational training in-charge, “special care is taken in such cases”. Proper programmes for home are given to the parents of these children since they need constant guidance and care.

Madhulika Nagpal who teaches dance to these children says, “These children are not different from normal children. I give them full freedom while dancing and they are so rhythmic that they pick up the steps very fast.”

Our Creative World which is a activity cum recreational centre wherein the children are taught art and crafts, western dances, dramatics and a host of other activities. The classes are held every evening form 4-6 pm and also on weekends. For these classes the fees are Rs.700 per month. In these classes children who are not a part of Four Steps can also participate. The aim behind these classes according to Sangeeta Khandelwal is, “To teach every child how to do his own basic work.”

The school has a faculty of 16, there is present an occupational therapist, speech therapist, physiotherapist, counselor, etc. The school is trying to maintain a 4:1 student teacher ratio. Besides these activities the children are also taken to various places, recently they were taken to railway museum.

When asked about their future plans Jayanti Dalmia said, “We are planning to open branches of Four Steps all over Delhi in the near future.” They are also planning to open up (OPD) around July this year.

Source: The Statesman
Dated 14th June, 2002