Helping hand for the mentally challenged

SURAT, June 15: For close to 15 years now, Aruna Thakkar, director of the Parivartan Deaddiction Centre, located in the city, has been worki...

SURAT, June 15: For close to 15 years now, Aruna Thakkar, director of the Parivartan Deaddiction Centre, located in the city, has been working for the mentally challenged and those caught in the vicious web of narcotics and drugs along with tobacco and alcohol.

After working with a number of welfare and voluntary organisations since 1984 both in Ahmedabad and Surat, Aruna Thakkar also started two schools for the mentally challenged before joining as the director of Parivartan De-addiction Centre, which was established by the Nashabandi Mandal of the State government jointly with the Central government. She has since served its director.

Born in Rajkot, Thakkar came over to Ahmedabad where she did her schooling and then graduated with psychology. She then came to Vadodara and did her masters in Social Welfare.. 8220;There used to be a school for the blind just opposite our residence in Ahmedabad,8221; she recollects, explaining why she decided to take up social work as a profession.

8220;During my college days we used to help the visually challenged through educational cassettes. My interests grew and I got involved with different organisations working in slums and hospitals,8221; she says, proudly stating that her father 8212; M P Thakkar, former justice of the Gujarat High Court and also a judge of the Supreme Court of India 8212; was the driving force behind her.

Back in 1984, Thakkar started Mamata8217;, a school for the mentally challenged in the city and co-ordinated its functioning for about three years. She then took a break from work after she was confined to bed because of a spinal cord complication. In the meantime, she was instrumental in getting another school opened, which was called the Rotary Taiyyebrukh School for Mentally Retarded. It was in 1989, when the Nashabandhi Mandal approached her, requesting her to co-ordinate the functioning of the Parivartan De-addiction centre.

After working for almost 10 years with drug addicts and alcoholics she does not feel that there is a rise in the number of cases. 8220;The problem is not that bad, but there are many who hesitate to come forward for help.8221; She also points out the indifferent attitude of the government as well as individuals and organisations towards drug abuse. 8220;After all, prohibition is not just enforcement. If that was true, then liquor would not be available here,8221; she explains.

In recognition of her services, she has been conferred with the best social worker award by the Nashabandi Mandal among other organisations. And having set an example for others to follow she says, 8220;Everyone owes something back to the society in which he lives.

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It8217;s not the job of one specific body or any individual to improve the lot of the not-so-fortunate, but every individual should do their bit towards the cause.