Laljibhai Prajapati (69) is visually impaired. But he has transformed his pain into an initiative that has improved the lives of over 500 senior citizens in the Kachchh region of Gujarat.

Since its inception, Shri Navchetan Andhjan Mandal has been a safe space for disabled individuals, particularly those abandoned by their families.

Having lost his vision at the age of 17, Laljibhai wanted to reach out to those who faced a similar fate, but did not have help.

Since 1997, Shri Navchetan Andhjan Mandal has catered to the needs of the elderly through a multifaceted approach that focuses on their healthcare needs, nutritious meals, assistance with daily living activities, and access to rehabilitation programmes.

Initially, there was only a single old-age home operational for blind individuals, but in 2003, the trust established another one for non-disabled elderly people who lost their children in the 2001 Bhuj earthquake.

One of the trust’s most successful initiatives is the inclusive education programme. “This is a unique school where children with various disabilities — visual, intellectual, hearing, and locomotion — are taught,” Laljibhai explains.

Students are provided with study material in braille, audio content, and facilities such as libraries, computer labs with a screen reader, smart classes, sports, yoga, dance, and music classes.

The rehabilitation and physiotherapy units cater to children who have cerebral palsy while the multimedia library boasts a large collection of reading material, including braille e-books.