Sri Sharada Devi Institute of Visual Management & Rehabilitation / Training of Differently Able (Recognized by Govt. of Karnataka) Sponsors: Infosys Foundation A glimpse into the world of light Sri Ramakrishna Sevashrama Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa Marg, Pavagada 561 202 Phone: 08136 24491/244030 email: swajapa@yahoo.com / srimathadrishti@gmail.com
Introduction Sri Ramakrishna Sevashrama established in the year 1990 in Pavagada, of Pavagada taluk in Tumkur district, has over the years undertaken many projects related to health care and has been rendering service in Pavagada taluk. The Sevashrama, in a quest to provide complete health care to the rural poor, has established Swami Vivekananda Integrated Rural Health Centre and Sri Sharada Devi Eye Hospital and Research Centre and has managed several programmes for eradication of blindness, Tuberculosis and Leprosy. It also operates a well-equipped Hospital with 50 beds, which is noteworthy. Infants and children with vision impairment and other eye problems are being treated at Sri Sharada Devi Eye Hospital. The parents of children with vision problem bring them to the Hospital for treatment. At times, the parents literally used to collapse and see no future when they come to know that their child will never see the light. It was at this juncture that the Head of the Institution thought of under taking rehabilitation program for all those children with low vision/total loss of vision. A survey was conducted jointly by Sri Sharada devi Eye Hospital and an Institution working for the Blind to know the number of children with vision impairment in and around Pavagada Taluk. The outcome of the survey indicated that there were nearly 150 persons of different age group with vision impairment. Immediately the Head of the institution met all the parents of persons with vision disability and informed them that a Special School, Shri Sharada Devi Institute of Vision Management (SSIVM), will be established to train and educate the visually impaired in various fields like vocational training, music, arts and computer apart from formal education. The parents were counseled to send their wards to the Institution. At present, 30 students are attending classes and making use of the facilities. The vision of the Institution is to enroll needy blind students, provide education, food and other vocational training and bring light in their life of darkness.
Birth of SSIVM : Sri Ramakrishna Sevashrama acquired a building adjacent to the Ashram, renovated the same to make it blind friendly. On October 25, 2014, a Ganapati Homa was performed in the renovated building. On December 26, 2014 the school was formally inaugurated in the august presence of Sri T.B. Jayachandra, Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs and Minister In-charge of the District. Other dignitaries who graced the function and appreciated the efforts of the Ashrama are Shri V.S. Ugrappa, MLC; Sri S. Suresh Kumar, MLA; Sri K.M. Thimmarayappa and many more leaders. SSIVM is being guided by Shri N. Santosh Hegde, Former Chief Justice of Supreme Court and Former Lokayukta, Govt. of Karnataka and Dr. K. Bujanga Shetty, a renowned Eye Specialist and Director, Narayana Netralaya, Bengaluru. Facilities offered for students: SSIVM is established specially for children with visual impairment and low vision. The Institution functions from 9:00 am to 3:30 pm from Monday to Saturday. Two vehicles are made available for picking and dropping students from their respective villages.
Route No. 1 covers Pavagada Veerammana Halli Ponnasamudra Kenchagana Halli Budda Reddy Halli K Rampura Dodda Halli Chikka Halli Potagana Halli Y N Hoskote Megala palya Halli. Route No. 2 covers Pavagada Kanivenahalli Medana Halli Jajurayana Halli Krishnapura Venkatapura Domma Tamari Gumma Ghatta Rangasamudra. Both the routes cover nearly 250 km. per day. To encourage children to be with their parents SSIVM runs only day boarding School. Breakfast is provided to all the students coming from the villages. This is followed by school prayer. The classes include Braille teaching, mobility training, computer training, vocational training, music, instrumental music, physical education along with formal education. Lunch is served at 1:00 pm. The classes will continue till 3:30 pm. Light snacks are provided before the students leave the school. All the above facilities are provided free of cost.
(zàè Ö zéæãµàªàå¼àî «záåyðuà½ué ±ÀÄaPÀgÀªÁzÀ ºÁUÀÆ gàäapàgàªázà G ÀºÁgÀ ªÀÄvÀÄÛ séæãd À ªÀåªÀ ÉÜ K Àðr À ÁVzÉ) SSIVM has a team of trained and professional teachers. The team consists of Smt. T. K.Vani, Head Mistress; Srinivasa Chaitanya, Music Teacher and Smt. Nagamani, Smt. O.L.Vijaya and Shri Dinesh, for different subjects. The Management Representatives Smt. K Shobha, Smt. Vanaja, Smt. K. Jayashree and Smt. K N Lakshmi supervise the daily functioning of the School. Celebrations: During the academic year 2014 15, SSIVM has celebrated Kannada Rajyotsava, Louie Braille Day, Birth day of Swami Vivekananda, Republic day, Gandhi Jayanti and Kanaka Jayanthi. The first Anniversary celebration of the school was a grand success.
Health Care of the Students: The Institution takes care of the health and hygiene of all the students. The complete health check up of the students is handled by Swami Vivekananda Integrated Rural Health Care Centre and Sri Sharada Devi Eye Hospital - the two wings of Sri Ramakrishna Sevashrama. Vocational Training: Apart from the formal education, the visually challenged students are taught and trained in different skilled activities like paper cover making, artificial flower garland making and making of plates from the barks of betel nut tree. This will enable them to earn and support the family income and mingle with the main stream of the society. Training Camps: Several camps have been organized since inception of the Institution. The important ones being the Training camp for Teachers and Volunteers by Mr. Dayanand Kanchan and Mr. Mohan Nayak, Technical Teaching Faculty from National Association for the Blind, Bengaluru. Mr. Jayakumar, Retd., Faculty from N.A.B. also conducted a training camp for 8 days for students, teachers and volunteers in Mobility and Life Skills. SSIVM intends setting up a Rehabilitation Centre for Differently Abled children too. Providing Education and Vocational Training will be the prime aim of the Institution. Cooperation Extended: SSIVM has the continued support and guidance from Mrs. Rajyashree Satish, Rehabilitation Counselor from Braille Transcription Centre, Mathruchhaya, a unit of Canara Bank Relief & Welfare Society, Bengaluru. She has guided SSIVM in setting up basic facilities for the students like special furniture, teaching aids, aids for mobility training, Braille books, uniform, etc. She is the Honorary Director of SSIVM and has contributed for the growth of the Institution.
Mitra Jyoti Trust for the Blind, Bengaluru is another organization, which is providing technical guidance and support. Ms. Madhu Singhal, Managing Trustee of Mithra Jyothi has visited SSIVM several times and has helped in planning the curriculum. The Faculty of SSIVM was given Braille and Mobility training at Mitra Jyothi. Narayana Netralaya,Bengaluru: Renowned Pediatric Eye Surgeons of this Hospital, Dr. Vasudha Naresh, Dr. Subhash Chandra, Dr. Naresh and the Chief of the Hospital Dr.Bhujanga Shetty and Dr. Rohit Shetty guide the Institution from time to time. Cooperation from the Devotees: The women devotees of the Ashram are extending maximum assistance in the day to day running of SSIVM. They have formulated a time table and they take turns in visiting the Institution and help in serving the food, conducting tuition classes and helping in skilled teaching. SSIVM is a boon to the visually challenged in a backward and rural place like Pavagada,. Education, skilled training,
computer training are given free for all the students. Added to this in a pollution free environment good and tasty food is also provided. It is our earnest plea that all the children with vision problem in and around Pavagada should make use of this golden opportunity. The current academic year will commence from June 2016. Interested parents can come and admit their children by providing necessary information. Education in SSIVM is totally free. Anyone with vision impairment can build up his or her future here. Let there be light in every one's life. Let us join hands to achieve this objective. In the Service of God Swami Japananda President Shri M.N.Venkatachalaiah, Patron of the Institution, Retd. Chief Justice, Supreme Court,New Delhi and Former President, NHRC; CID's DGP, Shri H.C.Kishore Chandra, IPS, Special Units & Economic Offences, Govt. of Karnataka visited Shri Ramakrishna Sevashrama on the eve of Swami Vivekananda Jayanti on January 12, 2016.