NBCD Profile
The genesis:
The North Bengal Council for the Disabled (NBCD) was formed in April 1990 in Siliguri, a small town in North Bengal in the district of Darjeeling as a volunteer society to advance the interest of persons with disabilities (PWDs). In the decade that had followed the observance of the International Year for the Disabled in 1981 both the Central and State Govts. had launched several initiatives for the education, rehabilitation and welfare of PWDs.
The various schemes put into force lacked implementation in the districts and NBCD was created by young persons with disabilities and their friends to take collective action.
Vision:
The vision of the founders of NBCD was to see a creation of a society in which PWDs could live with dignity and fulfillment as equal members of the community.
Mission:
The vision translated itself over the years into a mission in which elements of service delivery, advocacy, alliance formation became interwoven.
Organizational development:
NBCD grew from extremely humble beginnings in 1990. Some of the development markers are:
1990-1992: Advocacy
1992-1998: Ran limb fitting centre with Indian Red Cross Society.
1998: Founded Prerana a cross disability education and rehabilitation institution.
1998: Launched Community Based Rehabilitation Project (CBR) in 1 Gram Panchayat.
2004: Became District Level Resource Oraganisation of Sarba Siksha Mission
2005: NBCD became a long term partner of Action Aid India in its CBR Programme
2007: NBCD appointed State Nodal Agency Partner of the National Trust.
2010: Launched Urban CBR programme under Dept. of Municipal Affairs, GWB
2010: Became partner of Volunteer Service Organisation International, U.K. to promote
formation of disabled persons organization in North Bengal.
Major projects:
Prerana Educational Centre: It is a cross disability and rehabilitation centre. Its unique feature is that Prerana admits students with all types of disabilities and they study under the same roof. It has separate sections for students with visual, hearing, intellectual impairment, cerebral palsy, multiple disability, autism and orthopedic handicap. Prerana has a student strength of 146 of whom 37 (visually impaired-blind) are residential.
In addition Prerana teachers and therapists carry out early childhood education and rehabilitation both at school and in the adjoining municipal wards.
Education and rehabilitation is imparted by a team of 25 trained teachers, therapists and instructors.
Both formal and non formal curricula is adopted.
In formal academics the syllabus of the West Bengal Primary Board is followed. Children are integrated into general schools at the secondary level.
Curriculum developed by the National Institute of the Mentally Handicapped, Secunderabad and the Indian Institute of Cerebral Palsy,Kolkata are adhered to in the training of children with intellectual impairment, cerebral palsy and multiple disability.
Prerana with the help of the West Bengal Society for Autism is chalking out a rehabilitation programme for children with autism.
The Vocational Training at the school has received universal acclaim for the quality and range of products made in it. Trades such as plastic cane work, jute fabric products, tailoring, embroidery, silk screen printing, picture frame making, bamboo work are taught in this unit. Youth with different types of disabilities learn to complement each others skills in producing goods which are readily marketable. Under the MP LAD Scheme we have received support from Mr Bimal Jalan for construction of a vocational centre at the first floor of the existing school. This centre is being formally inaugurated on 9th September.
Prerana has recently opened a retail outlet called Prerana Craft Corner at Siliguri from which items produced under their vocational training programme are being sold.
Achievement:
Prerana is 12 years old and its oldest pupil with visual impairment has just completed the class X board examinations with flying colours with 1st division. 12 other students with visual impairment are now studying in various secondary schools.
The institution lays great emphasis on personality development programmes and children participate in sports, singing, music, dance quiz competitions, art and dramatics and have won many prizes.
Education at Prerana is completely free for all students most of whom come from underprivileged families and many are first generation learners. The parents involvement programme at the institute has been very successful ever since parents themselves formed an registered association called Prerana Parivar.
Prerana has excellent equipment including computer lab, multi sensory room, physiotherapy unit and Braille transcription service. The hostel is spacious, well ventilated and extremely clean. Hostelites have a well structured routine which includes PT, games, yoga, prayer, co curricular activities, prep classes.
CBR project:
NBCD works in the rural blocks adjoining Siliguri and has launched a Community Based Rehabilitation programme as early as 1998.
It has now spread to more than 700 villages and is covering a population base of more than 3, 50,000 persons.
NBCD reaches out to 4214 persons with disabilities, their families and communities.
The program seeks to transfer skills, empower communities and sensitise all service providers so that through concerted community action the process of rehabilitation can become ongoing and self sustaining.
The 2 major planks on which the CBR programme is based are intensive individual home based education and promotion of alliances of persons with disabilities and their federations at the gram panchayat, block and district level. A rights based approach is the guiding principle and the object is to secure complete inclusion in their communities.
Achievements:
Disability certificate issued to 2393 persons.
Identity card issued to 1895 persons
Aids and appliances issued to 1654
Voter identity card issued to 1743 persons
Ration card issued to 1960
Dwellings under IAY: 145 persons
Widow pension sanction for 22 persons
NREGA job card: 674
NREGA work: 411
Disability pension: 428
Old age pension: 87
School enrolment: 634
Barrier free features: 99 schools
School stipend received by 489 students
People’s Alliance:
Village level: 130 groups
Gram Panchayat level: 16
Block level: 3
DA level: 1
Total number of alliance members: 1727
The CBR program has the dedicated service of 33 Field workers, Coordinators and Reflect facilitators.
Registration and Recognition:
NBCD has been enjoying the following registrations:
- West Bengal Registrar of Societies
- Commissioner of Disabilities West Bengal
- Income Tax, under sec: 80G and 12 A
- FCRA, Sec, Minister of Home affairs, Government of India
- National Trust for the welfare of persons with Autism, Mental Retardation, CP, and Multiple Disabilities
- Granted Academic Recognition by the department of Mass Education Extension , Government of West Bengal
Sponsorship:
Prerana has launched an appeal to Individuals and Institutions, Trusts and Foundations to support the education of Individual support through a Sponsorship Program.
All donations are admissible for Income Tax exemption under Sec, 80G
Prerana gratefully receives donations by cheque, demand draft, electronic transfer, payable in favour of NBCD account Prerana.
Foreign remittances are deposited in favour of North Bengal Council for the Disabled Account SB6473,Indian Overseas Bank
Particulars of Bank
Branch: Indian Overseas Bank,
Hill Cart Road Branch,
Siliguri: 734001
Branch Code no.: 0458
Swift Code no.: IOBINBB001
E-mail ID:-
Supporters shall be sent periodic Progress Report of their sponsoree twice annually.
Annual School Report
Annual Newsletter
Cost Analysis: Rs. 25,000.00 per annum per student.