Lokvishwas Prathishtan (LVP) an NGO at Dhavlim Ponda which is doing Yeoman Services to the differently abled students in Goa, was established in 1981 by the then Governor of Goa Jagmohan with 18 students.
With the intention of upliftment, welfare and to provide educational oppportunities to the differently abled students, the LVP came into existence to create social awareness to solve the problems faced by the handicapped in Goa. The institute received the expertise and support of founder members like journalist (then Editor of Daily Gomantak) Narayan Athavale, Vaman Radhakrishana, DrSavlo Keni, Usha Kelekar to name a few.
Today due to the increasing number of special children and demands from their parents, LVP has three schools in its main complex at Dhavlim-Ponda, one each for the mentally challenged (1999), hearing impaired and visually impaired (2001) with a total enrollement of about 275 students. Besides this, LVP has a Day Care Centre(2012) for the mentally challenged. The Day Care centre has a head count of 30.
Recently a special school at Mollem was set up to provide educational opportunities to the differently abled students in Dharbandora, Sancordem, Mollem, Collem. Around 18 students have been enrolled to this special school.
The LVP had set up a teacher’s training college with two diploma courses in special education in mentally challenged (2003) and austism syndrome disorders (2015) with 60 candidates. It is expected to provide the growing demand of trained teachers for the special children. The courses are recognised by the Rehabilitation Council of India (RCI), New Delhi.
LVP management lays a lot of stress in celebrating all festivals and participation in Independence Day programmes. Apart from education, LVP also teaches its students how to make Narkasura effigies, rakhis and sell them in the open market to rake in the moolah. The organisation lays stress in extra curricular activities too and students are given lessons in dancing etc.
Notwithstanding their financial crunch, LVP is continuing with its good work and maintaining its commitment to the society.
To make matters worse, Goa Government has, till date, no expert to interview special chilldren for reserved job for the handicapped. And guess what, the government is not serious about it either. The Goa govenment has no sign language expert and whenever it needs one, it approached the LVP. But in so many years, no government has deemed it necessary to look into the institute’s problems, espcially when students are prepared with so much difficulty, they (the students) can expect this much from the government.
We need to have a change in the mindset and the government must do the needful to facilitate such students who had to prepare themselves despite so many hurdles in life!
