FROM EDITOR’S DESK
Dear,
Art conscious citizens,
Considering the complete growth of the society it can be firmly said that specially challenged persons are sitting still in the rear seat of the society. In big cities there is some chance for them to work, but in North Bengal particularly in Jalpaiguri there is very little scope for them. In Kolkata and its surrounding districts the specially challenged people are however getting more chance to develop through handicraft. Although North Bengal is endowed with natural treasure we are still not able to organize any integrated industry for them.
Utilizing the natural treasure trove of north Bengal “SWAPNATORON” has been trying to make the specially challenged class self dependent. As a first step to achieve our goal, we have started to train them on handicraft. As they are physically challenged it is not quite possible for them to sell their products in market. So it is also our duty to make arrangement for them to sell their products. We have been facing a lot of trouble in this respect.
In near future our main objective will be to make shop for the specially challenged people where they can sell their product, besides the organization has a dream of making such a workshop where they can produce their handicrafts according to their skill and ability.
Due to the lack of proper infrastructure and scarcity of adequate fund it is not possible for us at present to materialize our dream. In this respect we are expecting help from all the cultured residents of Jalpaiguri, from all the govt.organizations, N.G.O’s, Jalpaiguri Municipality
Thanking You
SECRETARY
“Every one thinks of changing the world, but none Thinks of changing himself………..”
Leo Tolstoy.
The dream of “SWAPNATORON”:-
Our dream is to build an institution where all the specially challenged people will be trained on handicraft to make them self-employed.
The means to fulfill our dream:”SWAPNATORON”(a handicraft training school for specially challenged people) wants to make them self dependent by giving necessary training .It also wants to bring all the skilled trainees under the shade of “TITIR SELF HELP GROUP”(unit no-EM/II-19002111824) and provide them proper chance to sell their products through some govt and private institutions like “BANGASHREE”,”MANJUMA” etc, and in some fairs across the nation. In this way the skilled trainees will achieve the ultimate goal of self employment.
The faculty of “SWAPNATORON”:-The volunteers who have been giving their tireless service to “SWAPNATORON” are:
(1)Honourable, Shankar Shil. (Art teacher) (M.A in Evs /Diploma in art)
(2) Honourable, Koli Bose (Handicraft teacher) (H.S/ Diploma in Craft)
(3) Honourable, Debjani Chatterjee (assistant) (B.A/Diploma in Computer application)
(4) Honourable, Pintu Sen (Assistant) (H.S)
(5) Honourable, Mainak Paul Chowdhury (Accountant) (B.Com)
Beside these,“Swapnatoron” has been greatly helped by many govt and private organizations, Jalpaiguri welfare Organization, District Industrial Centre- Jalpaiguri, District Social Welfare Organization, Handicap commission, Jalpaiguri Municipality
“If you can dream it, you can do it”
….. Emile Zola.
The activities of “SWAPNATORON”:-
It has been working with all in its limitation. Here is a glimpse of its social works:-
(1)”SWAPNATORON” (a handicraft training school for specially challenged people):-To make the all handicap people skillful craftsmen they have been given training on handicraft free of cost.
The subjects on which they have been imparted training are:-
(i)Good looking handicraft products from straw:-They have been taught to make handicrafts from straw. At first a straw is processed with hand .Then it is cut with hand and knife and affixed on a white sheet with gum .Then the sheet is cut very carefully with blade to give it a certain look and appearance. Many kinds of animals, natural scenery, pictures of many great people are made from it .Moreover they have been given training on making home decoration items.
(2)Handicraft products made of crystal:-Trainees have been trained to make products like key rings, showpieces, effigies of various Gods and Goddesses, etc from crystal.
(3)Artifacts made of bamboo:-Due to the abundance of bamboo in North Bengal they have been given training on handicrafts made of bamboo. Recently District industrial Centre organized a 30 days bamboo handicraft training camp to enhance their skill. They have been making flower vases, tray, etc from bamboo.
(4)Training to make dry flower:-Various kinds of leaves and fruits can be easily collected in North Bengal . Utilizing these we can make many kinds of artifacts. Due to financial as well as technical reason this project has not progressed very much.
(5)Art training centre:-To enhance the latent artistic sense among the deaf and the dumb they have been given free art training weekly. Presently five trainees are associated with it.
(6)Language Training Programme: - The main problem among the deaf and dumb is their limited vocabulary. They could not speak as they do not know the use of correct words to express themselves .They have been taught vocabulary and its use in every day afternoon. As a result they can now express themselves through mobile S.M.S.
(7)Educational Trip: - To increase the vocabulary and enhance the mental growth, the organization takes them to visit various social organizations, gardens, and bus-stands, on the last Saturday of every month.
(8)Cultural Training Centre:- To maintain the complete growth they have been given training on dance and mime once in a month.
(9)Guardian Meeting:- To discuss various kinds of problems of the trainees in their training a guardian meeting has been called on the last Sunday of every month.
(10)Social Participation:-We always try to remind them that they are also a part of the society and they can create something. So we take them to exhibitions and fairs to sell their products.
(11)Hearing Aid Repairing Centre:-we repair the hearing aid equipments free of cost or with a little money.
(12)Free hearing aid equipment Distribution:-Hearing aid equipments were distributed to twelve (12) deaf and dumb people with the help of Jalpaiguri Welfare Organization.
(13)Various important day celebration:-The organization celebrates various important days like-World Handicap Day, Birthday Celebration of Rabindranath Tagore, Republic Day celebration, Independence Day, World environment day ,etc with the help of physically handicaps.
“SWAPNATORON”, with its limitations, always try to help the specially challenged class to establish them in the society .And we will always be with the people.
“Life is an exciting business, and most exciting when it is lived for others”
************** Helen Keller.
