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A Charitable, nonprofit organization in
Kerala, India
Mar Gregorios Rehabilitation centre (MGRC) is a
charitable organization under the Malankara Orthodox
Syrian Church and is engaged in the rehabilitation of
poor Persons With Disabilities (PWD’s). It was started
in 1983 by the Late His Grace Philipos Mar Theophilus,
as a project of MGOCSM, the student wing of the church.
The original plan was to look after poor visually
impaired people only and the institution was initially
named “Mar Greogrios Rehabilitation Centre for the
Blind”. After ten years, in 1993, the services were
extended to people with other types of disabilities also
such as orthopaedically handicapped, hearing impaired
and mentally retarded. Our area of operation at present
consists of six village panchayats around Trivandrum
city viz. Aruvikkara, Karakulam, Kudappanakunnu,
Vattiyoorkavu, Vellanad and Vilappil. A
unique feature of MGRC is that unlike most of the other
rehabilitation institutions here the rehabilitation work
is community based which enables the beneficiaries to
live and work in their own homes and environment.
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Rehabilitation is a continuous process.
The work starts with the identification of needy persons
with disabilities through extensive field surveys. Our
community workers then regularly visit them and give them
counseling to enable them to come out of the shells of
disappointment and superstitions. The persons who need
medical treatment are taken to the various Government
hospitals in Trivandrum city by our workers. The medica
treatments, which usually takes time, include surgery,
physiotherapy and providing equipments such as artificial
limbs, calipers, hearing aids, spectacles etc.
After meeting the immediate requirements
of medical treatment we try to rehabilitate the PWD’s
economically. Several counseling sessions are usually
required to make them receptive and self confident.
Vocational training programmes also are arranged depending
upon the clinets’ aptitude and ability. Slected clients
are then encouraged to start self-employment projects such
as tea shop, vegetable shop, petty shop, electronic shop,
provision store, tailoring shop, goat rearing, envelope
making etc. Whenever financial assistance is required for
starting the project, it is provided by the Centre. The
income generated through the self employment project,
though relatively small, makes the PWD’s happy and
enthusiastic as their family members and the community
then start to view them as useful and participating
members of the society. |
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Another important activity of the centre
is to provide educational assistance to disabled children
and children of disabled parents. Financial support is
being given to such students of classes 1 – 12 , Degree
courses and professional courses.
Besides the various types of assistance
mentioned above, the centre helps the PWDs to get
disability certificates, disability pension, bus and
railway passes etc., from the authorities concerned.
Persons with disabilities are a part of
the society and must be accepted as having the same rights
and privileges as others. Our care and love can bring
happiness into the lives of many who suffer. Small efforts
on our part can be of great value to such persons. Let us
join hands to alleviate the miseries of theses unfortunate
persons with disabilities and thereby thank God Almighty
for all the mercies He has showered on us. |
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Moonnammoodu, Kodunganoor,
Trivandrum, Kerala, India |
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