Knowing the Ayodhya Charitable Trust

My visit to Ayodhya Charitable Trust located in Vikas Nagar, Wanowrie, Pune was a fulfilling one. The trust was started back in 1977 and has been functional since. It started off with a main objective of supporting the senior citizens having eye problems like cataract, low vision etc. for which they started eye checking camps in villages. Soon they realised that even young children are attending these camps so of whom were differently abled. So this trust then opened a school for differently abled students. They started the school on 22 January 2000 with 4 students and today there are more than 50 students. It is a residential school and receives Government Grant for 40 students while a total of 80 students are admitted in this school. Out of which 48 are boys and 32 are girls. They currently have a provision to teach students from Standard 1 to Standard 7. There are a total of 29 faculty members. They teach the students in the Maharashtra Board pattern. The trust also has a hospital with the name Ayodhya General Hospital. After educating the students from 7th standard, their main aim is the rehabilitation of students. Their aim is to make them admit into a good school. Their ex-student, Pooja, was admitted into a school in Mumbai and she scored 97% in boards. They have also received funds and grants from CSR and Barclays. It has won numerous awards and certifications. They won the award from Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, Govt. of India, New Delhi 'National Award – 1999 for the Welfare of People with Disabilities’ at hands of President of India. Although they have schooling till Standard 7, they even try to help students above 18 years old by contacting other NGOs and giving them a 6 Month Training followed by a job. They also organize Independence Day Celebration,General Knowledge Competitions and Annual Day for students. They have nearly 10 students in each class and a speech therapist also.

They aim to make students get good schools/special degree colleges after schooling till 7th standard. Besides studies, the students also actively take part in extracurricular activities. The students are also given physical training. The students have Languages, Maths, Sciences and Social Sciences as some of the subjects. They celebrate the festivals with the students. The students have a blue coloured uniform. The head of the trust is Mr. Prashant Ghatke. Their aim is to increase the students and classes still Standard 10th. Although they are having some problems in funds and land, it is expected that in upcoming 3-5 years they may increase the students and number of classes to 10th Standard. The trust is considered as one of the best charitable trust of Pune for differently abled people.