It was indeed a great day of great joy and jubilation for all of us at Kutch Vikas Trust and for everyone who are associated with it. Recognizing its service for the disabled, K.V.T is adjudged the Best Employer of Persons with Disability Award 2006, for the number of disabled given employment opportunity in our institution. K.V.T has a total of 22% its employees as disabled, including, Physically Disabled, Visually Challenged, Hearing Impaired and Mentally Retarded, besides hundreds and thousands of other differently abled given opportunity and support in other institutions and places.
 

Kutch Vikas Trust
receives National Award for
Best Disabled Employer
 2006

The honourable President of India Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam presented the award on December 3, 2006 at Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi, in the presence of Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment Mrs. Meira Kumar, Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment, Mrs. Subhalakshmi Jagadishan, and Secretary to the Government Mrs. Veena Chottarai. National Commissioner for Disability Dr. Manoj Kumar, Chairperson of National Trust Dr. Poonam Natarajan, and Chairman of Rehabilitation Council of India Maj. Gen. (Retd.) Ian Cordossa, were also present on the occasion. Fr. George Elavunkal, Asst. Director received the award on behalf of Kutch Vikas Trust. The award consists of Rs. 50,000.00 in cash, a shield, a citation and a certificate. K.V.T also received the state Best Disabled Employer award for the year 2004, and the Best Institution working for the welfare of the disabled in the year 2001.

K.V.T has been working in the field disabled empowerment, enabling them for their integration in the society and community for the last 25 years, creating new opportunities and vistas for their all round development. It has been working for the welfare of the disabled, through, Integrated school, Free Hostels for the Disabled, Centre for Multi Disabled and Deaf - blind, CBR for Deaf - blind, Centre for the Mentally Retarded, CBR for all types of Disability, Vocational Training for the disabled, Comprehensive Rehabilitation of the Disabled, Friends of the Disabled, Self Help Groups for the Disabled, Income Generation Programmes for the disabled, Advocacy, Awareness Creation, Sensitization and Marriage Bureaus, so on and so forth.

Rehabilitation Council of India Chairman Rtd. Maj. Gen. Ian Cardoza, AVSM, SM visited K.V.T and was all appreciation for the works that we are doing for the welfare and upliftment of the disabled.
The following are the words that he has written on the visitor’s book: “It is really good to be in Kutch Vikas Trust run by Priests and Nuns of various Congregations led by Fr. George, who has been working here for 25 years.

I have visited many institutions caring for the disabled but this is the first place where I have found everyone happy, peaceful and so loving. The children too are happy, smiling and at peace with themselves and with each other. God is truly here in your midst guiding and helping everyone to do His work and to look after His children.

The Institution is a world by itself with School, Congregations, Hospital, Farms, and workshops working in harmony with each other as a happy and perfect community. The children are clean, well dressed and disciplined. The values that they learn here will take them to their rightful place in society and the community.

I am truly happy that I was able to visit this exemplary institution.

May God continue to Bless all your endeavours.

Kutch Vikas Trust organized a One day consultation on the PWD (1995) Act, which is going to be amended taking into consideration all the views and recommendation of the stakeholders. Mr. Nitin of Action Aid, was the facilitator with more than 150 people representing various disability related organizations and disabled individuals themselves. The recommendations and Suggestions will be sent to the concerned department through Sense International (India), who has sponsored the programme.

October 1st is The World Elderly Day. To mark the occasion K.V.T has arranged a get-together for the Senior Citizens. “The Aged and Elderly has a positive role to play in their late life” was the main theme of the day with more than 100 elderly people gathering to mark the occasion. Prof. Mehta, retired Lecturer at the Lalan College, Bhuj gave a very inspiring talk and there were also some cultural events like, dance, songs, mimicry etc. for the entertainment of the elderly.

As that of every year, this year also we have arranged the Sharad Purnima Ras Garba Competitions with more than 25 teams taking part. The main aim of the programme is to encourage traditional Garba and Dandiya Ras to be promoted in the villages. There were competitions for Children, Ladies and Gents, and teams from around the villages of K.V.T had a keen competition.

Every Year 2nd Thursday of October is celebrated as the World Sight Day. The day is marked to create awareness among people about the value of vision and to promote the abilities in the life of the visually disabled. We conducted awareness programme in more than 6 schools in and around Bhuj town, involving more than 5000 children and staff. The main aim was to recognize the abilities of the disabled as well as to accept them as normal persons in the main stream.

Under the ambitious scheme of Maharshi Ashtavakr Yojana that we have undertaken in the Taluka of Nakhatrana, distributed more than 250 passes to Disabled people of various categories. The Chief Guest of the Day was Mrs. Snehalathaben IAS, Commissioner for Disability, Uttaranchal State. Mr. V. R. Patel, the Social Defence officer, District of Bhuj was also present on the occasion.