I was always interested in spirituality, but I can say my spiritual journey began in earnest when I started reading the Bhagavad Gita during my first pregnancy. I also studied the Vedas, Upanishads, and Swami Vivekananda’s works in quest of spiritual knowledge.

I can say that I had a blessed life, and I had not experienced any major problems. But the birth of my daughter Shruti, who was a special child, changed my life forever. She had a shunt in the brain and underwent four brain surgeries by the time she was just four months old. I had to take Shruti to various doctors in therapy centers. I realized that having a special kid is a huge trauma for any parent, but the situation is especially challenging when one is not financially strong. Special children have special needs and they require certain things to just survive, but these things are very expensive, and way beyond the reach of most people. The poor have to struggle through every single day of therapy. Moreover, the therapy does not lead to immediate results, and it takes years for special kids to acquire even basic skills.

While I was much better off, some instances got me thinking. Once I came across a couple during therapy who used to have only buttermilk for lunch every alternate day because they didn’t have money. I was shaken, and I told myself that I need to do something to help such people. Initially, I started supporting needy people I came across during visits to therapy centres with Shruti. I had helped 10 people, but I realized that there are many more people out there who need help. This is how the idea of establishing an NGO to support such people came, which took shape in the form of Madhuram Charitable Trust. I did not know how to begin, but the law degree came in handy. Our intention was noble and we received support from everyone.

In just over two years, the Trust has achieved much more than I had imagined. We have supported more than 1,000 special kids in one way or the other. Later, when the Covid-19 pandemic broke out, we launched Project Stepathon with an aim to distribute prosthetic legs to physically challenged persons. We have distributed high-tech prosthetic legs imported from Germany to 85 beneficiaries so far, and we aim to cross 100 very soon.

Going ahead, I plan to ensure the beneficiaries of prosthetic legs are literally standing on their own by providing them with employment opportunities and helping them become financially independent. I am in talks with companies that can absorb some of the beneficiaries.  Another target going ahead is to open an aqua therapy centre for special kids. These kids are looked down on in general facilities due to a lack of awareness about their condition. I am already talking to the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation, which is very supportive of such a center. I am confident there will be good news to share shortly.

(The author is Founder and Trustee of Madhuram Charitable Trust, an NGO working for the specially abled)

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