About Us

The Caregiver Trust is a Public Charitable Trust, (Regd. No. 2786 dt. 14.8.2001) registered under the Income Tax Act. It has been set up by a group of parents, who are also members of Bodhayan, a registered parents' association representing their mentally challenged children. Caregiver Trust is a shining example of their passionate commitment and farsightedness.

Parenting a special child is a special experience. It is rich in the purest of emotions and devoid of the frills and facades of mundance social existance. Yet, parents will not be there forever. Tinni's Baba and Ma will eventually grow old, infirm and incapable of looking after some of her basic needs. The Caregiver Trust tries to address this principal parental anxiety 'what after us?' Tinni (and many like her) must be given a secure, long term future in a community of like-minded people, where each can take care of other. But the process of adaption to new surroundings must begin before the parents have departed.

Our existing bore well started picking up sand in mid 2022, leading to emergency situations when we had to buy water for drinking and cooking. On a CRS grant after three failed attempts to locate a new source of water, the contractor was able to get a successful bore well. In mid June 23 we installed a 2 hp submersible pump in the new bore.

The local electricity supply was and remains unreliable. Power interruptions 3 to 4 times a day were common. So with another CSR grant we installed a 5kw solar panel with associated inverters and batteries in January '24. Now interruptions are reduced to a flicker as systems changeover.

The Trust received a donation from a private individual for a solar water heater. A 200 liter capacity solar heater has been installed in Nov 24. The system has been a blessing as all residents were able to get hot water for daily baths this winter.

In June '24 we had a massive simultaneous lightning strike on both our buildings. It took out our washing machine, our CCTV system, and a number of our expensive BLDC fans. Even equipments that were switched off still went out of order. We have since installed two lightning arrestors and four fire extinguishers at strategic points in the buildings.

Next month we installed a new CCTV system to protect our property.

In September '24 a new washing machine was purchased to replace the machine damaged by the lightning strike.

 

The Plan

The Caregiver Trust will specifically deal with this issue. The Trust will follow a path-breaking concept. It will develop and manage a special Home-not only for the mentally handicapped, but also for their aged/infirm parents. There will be single room units and dormitories (male and female). Ageing parents and their special wards will live in single room units while dormitories will house unaccompanied special people. Once there is a change in 'circumstances' (which may occur in a decade or two), the ward will join others staying in the dirmitory. A gradual process of integration in a like-minded community will thus lessen the shock of losing one or both parents.

There will also be recreational, vocational, education and medical facilities. A large playground, community hall, day-care schooling, workshop for vocational training dispensary and guest house accomodation for visitors will address those issues. In addition, there will be a small diary, a poultry and a large kitchen garden and orchard (all run along organic lines) to complement nutritional requirements of the Home. This will aso provide gainful engagement for Tinni and her friends. Looking after the farm animals and growing one's one food wil be rewarding occupation for them. A doctor member of the group will provide guidence on such matters. The plan consists of two phases:

 Procurement and development of land
 Building residential complexes and plantations.

Initially there will be provision for 25 wards and 5 caregivers. Funding for permanent structures and fixed assets are to be from public donations. The maintenance charges will be borne by the inmates and any supporting donors. It is intended to grow rice and vegetables on the balance land to meet the requirement of the residents. The kitchen garden will also provide occupation for residents who are capable and interested. Tanks on the site will be used for irrigation and growing fish.

Work already done.

Phase A is practically complete. Caregiver Trust has already purchased 8 acres of and in a rural location beyond Baruipur (about 25 km from Kolkata, in the district of 24 Parganas South). You may see it on the GoogleEarth map  Click here. The land has been developed. Three tanks have been excavated and the earth used to raise the land to reduce flooding during monsoons. The acid peaty soil has been ameliorated with lime and is now growing vegetables and rice. Deficient trace elements have been identified and the soil partly corrected.

The work of building has been completed, with two floors plastered both inside and out. The toilets have been tiled and the floor completed. Electricity connections have been done and a bore well for drinking water made. A submersible pump and roof storage tanks have been installed. Running water is available and sanitary fittings in toilets are complete. The approach road has been given a concrete surface, and the perimeter security wall is being finished.

We need your help

Financial or any kind of help, either directly or indirectly (by promoting Tinni's cause in the philanthropic community) will be highly appereciated. more.

Our 'Special Children'

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