New Delhi, March 25: Students’ Welfare Mission, popularly known as Tapoban, an NGO from Pathsala, Assam working for special and autistic children has been conferred the coveted Children’s Champion Award 2023 at a function held at Triveni Auditorium here on Saturday.
Instituted by the Delhi Commission for Protection of Child Rights last year to recognise individuals and institutions who have championed the cause of children across education, justice, health, nutrition, sports, and artistic expression categories, Tapoban has been awarded in the health and nutrition category.
Justice Dr.S.Muralidhar, Chief Justice, Odisha High Court presented the award to founder president of the NGO, Kumud Kalita, in the presence of several dignitaries.
The award carries Rs.75,000, a certificate and a plaque.
A jury comprising eminent and accomplished individuals decided to confer the Children’s Champion Award on Students’ Welfare Mission in health and nutrition category for their ‘consistent efforts to provide quality care to the children with special needs’.
In his acceptance speech, an elated Kalita said, “I am humbled by this award, and for reposing trust in me and the organisation I represent. I am here to seek support from you all and hope more assistance comes to us in various forms such as awards and endowments so that we can continue to serve these special children around us with renewed zeal and vigour.”
Set up in 2005, Tapoban has been working relentlessly for the specially-abled children providing speech therapy, physiotherapy and occupational therapy, music and other skills besides awareness. “The children are brought to Tapoban where they are taught daily living skills, ways of communication, music apart from academics. They interact with each other in a child-friendly environment,” said Kalita.
Tapoban has provided a home and education to these children with special needs. Presently there are 18 specially-abled and orphaned children housed in Tapoban and they are looked after with tenderly love and care by altogether 17 workers. Since its inception, over 700 children have been rendered help by the NGO so far.
A political science teacher in a junior college in Lower Assam’s Pathsala town, Kalita has been inspired and motivated to work for the differently-abled children with special needs since his university days. He used to frequent the Asom Sishu Kalyan Sadan and SOS Children’s Village.
A recipient of the State Teachers’ Award in 2021, Kalita said that his NGO has been getting support from individuals and organisations, including doctors. The NGO also receives funds from the State Child Protection Society, Assam from time to time. It bagged the Chief Minister’s Best Community Action Award in 2011.
