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Dheemahi


Dheemahi is an initiative by the mothers of children with autism, down syndrome, and mental challenges, under the Madurai chapter of Saksham.

The objective of Dheemahi, formed in Oct 2019 in Madurai, is to evolve appropriate measures for the benefit of Autistic and other intellectually challenged individuals (children and adults) with a particular focus on training them in a suitable vocation and providing them with a residential facility.

Since Oct 2019, Saksham has been running a Vocational Training Centre (only day care) for about 25 autistic & intellectually challenged individuals, in the prayer hall of Sivananda Vidyalaya, Thoppur village on the outskirts of Madurai, Tamil Nadu.

The project in Phase I aims to provide its beneficiaries with an inclusive environment, appropriate vocational training, self-reliance in daily living, moral, physical, social, and psychological well-being, healthcare, and job opportunities depending upon their abilities. This will ensure that they become as much self-supporting as practically possible, so as to live their lives with dignity, with minimum or nil dependence on others.

Unlike other day-care centres, Dheemahi will become partly residential in Phase 2 and fully in Phase 3 of construction, and will be entirely non chargeable for individuals from poorer economic backgrounds (others can contribute whatever they can afford).

There is no other such organisation in Madurai that provides free of cost residential vocational training for autistic & mentally challenged; Dheemahi fills this void to cater to the poorer strata of the society.

The project covering Phase I, Phase II and Phase III requires an estimated area of 30,000 sq ft building and a total estimated project cost (Capex) of INR 8.55 Cr.

Need for the proposed intervention

Individuals with disabilities have the potential to contribute to the development of themselves and their communities, especially if administered appropriate interventions at an early stage, and also deserve an opportunity to receive quality education. Lack of early interventional & vocational training opportunities come in the way of their further personal development and diminishes their access to employment and other future prospects. Dheemahi fills this gap and is also an honest effort to provide a safe and caring school-cum-home to these vulnerable individuals.

In RPWD (Rights of Persons with Disabilities) Act 2016, 21 types of disabilities were recognized, constituting 15-17% of the total population (140Cr.) The next census may show a raised curve as the prevalence keeps increasing, especially in the intellectually challenged area. Once considered rare, the current understanding is that autism and intellectual disability are in fact among the more common developmental disorders. The recent estimated prevalence of ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder) in India ranges from 0.15% to 1.01% in various studies, depending on the screening method used, and the areas surveyed. In the INCLEN (International Clinical Epidemiology Network) study, the prevalence of ASD is 1 in 125 children in 3-6 years and 1 in 85 in children 6-9 years of age.

The prevalence in rural areas is 0.90%, 0.6% in hilly regions, 1.01% in urban areas, 0.1% in tribal areas, and 0.61% in coastal regions.

Madurai District has a population of about 30,38,252 and it is estimated that 1% of this population i.e., about 30,000 persons will face some form of ASD/Intellectual Challenges and will require some form of therapeutic intervention.

Dheemahi’s approach to the above challenges

Dheemahi aims to address the above challenges as under:

  1. Will address the issue of failure to diagnose early and anti-interventions mindset primarily through awareness creation campaigns. These efforts will gain momentum when regular Capacity Building Training Sessions are conducted for close family members (parents, siblings etc.) of ASD/Mentally Challenged in Phase II.
  2. Holistic & Integrated Management Approach will be adopted vis-à-vis exclusivist, single specialization focus of other centres. Integration of native wisdom & practices will gain momentum in Phase III after Indic-Centric Research Facilities are set-up & functional.
  3. Will focus on improving social skills, pragmatic language development, personalized recreational activities, and meaningful vocations for grownups/ adults, instead of over-focussing on behavioral control, need-based communication, adaptive living and functional academics.
  4. Challenges of those living in rural areas will be tackled by transporting the persons in need of our services to Thoppur Centre & providing all interventions (free of cost to those who cannot afford). After constructing residential facilities under Phase III, accommodation will also be offered to those hailing from far off rural areas.

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Events

Upcoming events

  • Divyangjan Empowerment Day 2025

    • 28 Dec 2024
    This is the day on which new Act Rights of Persons with Disability 2016 came into force. Saksham has decided to celebrate this day for creating awareness among the Divyangajan and public at large about the rights of Divyangjan and duties of public and Government / Administration towards Divyangjan.
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  • Netrakumbh 2025

    • 12 Jan 2025
    • 28 Feb 2025
    • Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, India
    On the auspicious occasion of the upcoming Maha Kumbh, the grand festival of Sanatan Dharma, we are proud to announce the Netra Kumbh-2025, to be held in the sacred city of Prayagraj.  India is home to nearly 5 crore people with various disabilities, of which over 1.25 crore are visually impaired. Many suffer from preventable blindness due to a lack of awareness and inadequate medical facilities. Furthermore, corneal blindness remains a significant issue, with thousands of individuals in need of corneal transplants.  In this sacred setting of Maha Kumbh 2025, we are organizing an exceptional event that goes beyond the spiritual Netra Kumbh-2025, which will provide free eye check-ups, distribution of medicines and spectacles, and eye surgeries. This initiative, aimed at improving public health, is made possible with the collaboration of leading service-oriented organizations such as Saksham, The Hans Foundation, Swami Vivekananda Health Mission, Shri Bhaurao Deoras Trust, Shri Rajju Bhaiya Seva Trust, National Medicos Organization, and Seva Bharti.

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