Like many others Neeta Bahadur (40) thought it was important to do something for those who were not as privileged as her. Unlike most others, Bahadur did not let this remain a noble intention. Instead, 17 years ago Bahadur, then a reporter with Lucknow based Hindi daily started recording audio books for blind children. When she paused to count she found she had made 400 cassettes for students from class one to 10.

That beginning gave her the confidence to do more and has since morphed into the Mission School, an institution that besides catering to 300 mentally and physically challenged children from 60 villages, also has a section for "normal" children.

This integration, she believes is important to create greater acceptance of disabilities. Hence though classes for the two sets of children are run separately, they stage cultural events and participate in school competitions as a team. The challenged children are not charged any fee and the school provides them with books, uniforms and meal during school hours. Physiotherapy, medical check-ups and psychological counselling are other add ons. There is also a school bus to ferry the children to and from school. The normal children pay a fee of Rs 400, which Bahadur hopes will make the venture self sustaining.

Run under the aegis of the Drishti Samajik Sansthan (established 1990), the school is the latest addition to a long success story that has seen many challenged children from Lucknow's rural and backward fringes being trained in vocational skills and becoming self-dependent.

"I started working with these children at a time when they were not a "popular" cause", Bahadur says. The first task was to convince parents that something worthwhile could be made of the lives of children they had virtually discarded. "These children are held back, not by a lack of talent but by lack of proper opportunities" she offers.
When Bahadur started off, her biggest challenge was to convince parents who would look upon her as a kidnapper!

Vocational courses

After convincing the parents Bahadur started offering vocational courses in typing, shorthand, weaving, tailoring, candle making and other crafts. Regular medical camps and awareness camps were also integrated into the programme.

Children who displayed  an aptitude for academics and could be mainstreamed were supported for higher studies.

Of the 50 such children who have been mainstreamed so far, one success story is Pawan Gaur, a physically challenged orphan who is now employed with a nationalised bank. More than 1,000 children have found purpose to their lives with help from Drishti so far.

And most importantly, the parents who would shun them now express pleasant and grateful surprise at the way their lives have changed.

The society has also handled a pilot project for the National Trust and Rehabilitation Council of India for setting up and running a long hour residential centre/hostel for children suffering from autism, mental and/or multiple retardation. Besides conducting training programmes for care givers, anganwadi workers and parents of disabled children, the society has also been selected for the micro financing scheme of the Government of India's National Handicapped Finance and Development Corporation.

Financial constraints
Despite financial constraints, Bahadur has never sought government help as she believes that comes with attached strings. Finances come from Bahadur's own family, her banker husband and donations from good samaritans. But the civic authorities do offer help off and on.

Thus the 22,000 sq feet park behind the school will double up as a playground for the children. While the central government provides assistance for 11 teachers at the Mission School, some money is also made from the crafts, which the children sell at local fairs. She is in the process of setting up a show room on the 7,000 sq feet Mission School to provide a permanent display for the crafts.

Her work has been recognised, among others by FICCI which honoured her with the "Outstanding Social Worker of the country" in 2003 and Dr Reddy Laboratories which honoured her in 2001. The state government awarded her in 2005.

But Bahadur is convinced that her work has given her much more than these awards. "My work made me appreciate life. We crib about the small things but take a look at these children and you will realise how lucky we are", she sums up.