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About Us/History

WHO WE ARE

A registered organisation working for and with children and persons with disabilities in Assam and NE India

ABOUT US

Shishu Sarothi's journey began modestly in 1987, with two children (Biki Borbora and Amit Barua), a, trained special educator and a close-knit affectionate team of parents and volunteers, operating from a single room set up in one of the children's grandparent’s home. The founding team was led by Brinda Crishna, Tondra Borbora (Biki's mother), Mira Kagti (Amit's aunt), late Anjana Hazarika (Lahori Baideu), Shamsad Haq and others.

The team of committed and passionate volunteers gradually grew and were provided initial training, technical support and guidance by Indian Institute of Cerebral Palsy (formerly Spastics Society of Eastern India), Kolkata, in the early years to offer holistic services for children with cerebral palsy and associated multiple disabilities. As word spread about the services, the number of children grew exponentially, and in 1997, we moved to our own premises built painstakingly over time, on Government allotted land in Birubari, Guwahati.

 

We have come a long way since then, and over the last three+ decades, along with our larger team of dedicated staff, we have responded to opportunities and challenges and evolved to become a leading regional institution on disability matters.

Services have expanded to reach thousands of children with different developmental disabilities across Assam, neighbouring states in NE India and even beyond. The work follows twin tracks of service delivery and rights realization, with core services in the domains of health and education supplemented by projects and programs to address needs across the life span and a conscious rights based approach, that actively protects and upholds the rights of persons with disabilities.

 

Key Thematic Areas

 

 Early Intervention: expanding and extending services to reach unreached children with disabilities

 Inclusive Education: promoting inclusion as a resource centre for educating children with disabilities

 Awareness and Advocacy: empowering rights holders and informing duty bearers

 Research and Documentation: creating empirical evidence and influencing policy on disability