Community comes together to help specially-abled children in Una village

Rajesh Sharma

Una, February 20

The Human Rights Protection Cell (HRPC) and Welfare Association — a society registered under the Himachal Pradesh Societies Registration Act — is working for a humane cause since 2010. The organisation is running ‘Ashray’, a day-boarding school at Dehlan village here to provide rehabilitation and training to specially abled children of the district.

The 83 students of the school receive free education, refreshment and lunch. Transportation via the organisation’s school buses is also free for the specially-abled students.

Recalling the conception of ‘Ashray’, HRPC president Suresh Aeri said that about 14 years ago, the then Una Deputy Commissioner, Padam Singh Chauhan, called him to his office. Chauhan sought help from the organisation to provide the boarding and lodging facility to a destitute specially-abled child.

Aeri said the DC had no other choice but to send the child to an orphanage in Shimla. He added, “I took the child to my residence for two days, as there was no place to provide food and shelter to him.”

He said the DC had offered a grant of Rs 50,000 to the organisation to start a shelter home. According to HRPC secretary Ashwani Kalia, when people came to know about the noble cause, money was no constraint. ‘Ashray’ employed six special educators, three helpers and three drivers, he said.

The village gurdwara, too, chipped in with mid-day meals for the students, according to treasurer Shammi Jain. The Gurudwara Management Committee provided dry ration, he said. The ‘Ashray’ management committee, comprising local community members, manages the school operations, he added.

Aeri said the involvement of the community prompted successive Deputy Commissioners to enlist the help of the HRPC for many causes, including the care of destitute elderly folk.

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