Nestled in the heart of Dholpur, Rajasthan, lies Mayuri Special School, a haven for special needs children. Founded in 2000 by Dr. Radhey Shyam Garg and his wife, Mayuri is more than just a school. This institution is a place where children who need extra help, support and individual attention get just that, and more: a supporting environment that fosters acceptance and growth.
Born from the love of a father, Dr. Radhey Shyam Garg, for his daughter Mayuri, the school is a testament to the transformative power of empathy. It was Mayuri's journey, etched with the challenges of physical and mental disabilities, that inspired Dr. Garg and his wife. They saw not just their own daughter's struggles, but the silent struggles of countless other children confined not only by their disabilities, but also by the apathy of a world that often looks the other way.
For Dr. Garg, a renowned surgeon, this wasn't just an initiative; it was a calling. The school started with a modest enrollment of five students. It was a leap of faith, a promise to offer a space where acceptance and compassion were the norm, and where lessons meet the children more than halfway. With each new child, the school grew, its branches reaching out to embrace young hearts just waiting for understanding and opportunity.
Special education can be a beacon of hope for children with disabilities, providing them the necessary support and accommodations they need to navigate the world. Without special education, many of these children might find themselves excluded from the opportunities their neurotypical peers enjoy. Mayuri Special School recognizes this, offering a space where children with mental disabilities and speech disorders find not just education but a home filled with understanding and care.
Here, personalised care and tailored education replaces standard classrooms. Physiotherapists and speech therapists work hand-in-hand with dedicated teachers, creating an environment where every child thrives at their own pace. In recent years, the school has established Mayur Pankh, an institute where children train in practical skills and crafts, equipping themselves with a sense of purpose, and real world skills that can contribute to their livelihoods.
Today, the school boasts of several successes, with students going on to live healthy, productive lives and livelihoods that give them both financial freedom and personal validation. Several alumni now support their families, with some who have even secured government jobs.
Mayuri Special School, currently serving over 150 students annually, has effectively set the new benchmark for special education. Over the past decade, the school has touched the lives of more than 750 special children, leaving an indelible mark on their journeys toward independence and self-sufficiency. Looking ahead, their vision for the future is to train these children in sports so that they can represent the country in the Paralympics.
To honour stories like Dr. Garg and Mayuri Special School, AU Small Finance Bank presents Badlaav Humse Hai Season 2, in association with Network18. Just like the first season, Season 2 celebrates 25 stories that showcase changemakers whose unsung work has helped carve out cultural identities for communities, lifted them out of poverty; created access where only barriers existed; shown communities how to work with nature to create true sustainability; changed hearts and minds about othered communities; changed the lives of many through economic, social or educational empowerment, and much, much more.
Watch Season 2 of Badlaav Humse Hai for more stories like this one. You may also catch up on all the wonderful stories from Season 1.
Moneycontrol Journalists were not involved in the creation of the article.
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