Bal Chetna
Bal Chetna, our home and day-care facility for mentally challenged children was established in 2002. The impetus to start a programme for mentally challenged children was three-fold:
- Increasing numbers of mentally challenged children abandoned at PalnaTM
- Surveys done by our staff in resettlement and slum areas indicated that there was a high proportion of children with mental disabilities who were not getting the attention they needed
- An increasing number of children with cerebral palsy and multiple disabilities had started coming to the Orthopaedic Centre for help and advice.
Today Bal Chetna comprises residential facilities for homeless mentally challenged infants at PalnaTM, as well as day-care facilities for children from economically backward families at:
- Janakpuri
- Sultanpuri
Each centre has about 30-35 children. By providing individualised and specialised care, Bal Chetna facilitates the stimulation and development of special needs children, with the objective of making each child as self-reliant, competent and communicative as is possible.
Services offered at Bal Chetna include:
- Physiotherapy / Occupational Therapy
- Music / Play Therapy
- Special Education
- Speech Therapy
- Vocational Training
- Psychological Evaluation
- Parents' Meetings and Counselling
- Home Training Programme
- Midday meal and Supplementary Nutrition
Parents are required to attend the day care programme once a week to help with the sessions and more importantly, to learn the routine so that they can follow it at home.
The multi-specialty team at Bal Chetna is constantly improvising upon teaching aids and techniques to provide a variety of stimuli to the children. Bal Chetna children now participate in sports meets and handcraft items things like rakhis and paper bags. They act in in plays, dance and sing on festivals.
It is a matter of pride for us at DCCW that many children from Bal Chetna have been integrated into mainstream schools as well as institutes for advanced courses in vocational training.
Case study : Naina Kumari
Naina Kumari, a 6-year-old special needs child enrolled in our Bal Chetna programme in April 2023. She was diagnosed with cerebral palsy at birth. When enrolled, she was unable to stand independently, relied on crawling for mobility, had a weak grip, experienced drooling, and exhibited delays in speech.
She has been undergoing physiotherapy, speech therapy and special education sessions. In speech therapy she practices blowing exercise, picture identification, cheek massage and lip exercises. In physiotherapy, she has stretching exercises to reduce muscle tightness and promote walking. Initially she practiced walking with a walker, and eventually progressed to practicing walking without the walker. In special education classes, she practices scribbling, tracing, and activities of daily living. In September 2024 she started taking a few steps by herself, and is now walking and playing ball with her friends. Drooling has also stopped, and she can speak a few words and express herself very well.
Naina's progress has been truly heartening—not just for her family, but for all of us at Bal Chetna. Her journey is a powerful reminder of the impact of early intervention, dedicated therapy, and inclusive education.
