Muskaan, an NGO in Delhi enables adults with intellectual disabilities

A centre in Delhi harnesses the abilities of adults with intellectual disabilities

It seems only fitting to reflect upon the transformative power of freedom in the week that India celebrates 67 years of independence. After spending some time in Muskaan, I realise how therapeutic freedom can be.

"Just like you and I have the freedom to determine the course our lives take, so should individuals with intellectual disabilities," says Shanti Auluck, founder of Muskaan. "Yet, this freedom is rarely offered to them. They spend their childhood in regimented schools (if they're lucky) and have very few options of gainful employment after they pass out. Others decide how they live their lives, often with no idea of their likes, dislikes and interests." This was why, way back in 1982, Auluck set up Muskaan, a centre for adults with intellectual disabilities. Muskaan aims to provide challenging work training and opportunities to people with intellectual disability; support and inform their families about their condition and raise awareness in society about the disabled, their abilities and their rights. "Since then, there are many things that my students here have taught me," says she, "but the most important lesson I've learnt is that when given the chance to live and work independently, individuals with mental disabilities rise to the challenge beautifully."
 
Auluck takes me for a walk through the sprawling Muskaan campus, where 140 individuals with varying degrees of functioning come every day for training. Our first stop is the flower unit, where the more severely disabled pluck petals off flowers gathered from temples and dry them into Holi colours. "We have tried to divide each activity into a series of graded tasks of increasing complexity," she explains. "The idea is for every individual to be productive, and be slightly challenged by the task so s/he doesn't get bored." Next, we find ourselves in the bright, airy kitchen, where a variety of breads, cakes, muffins and cookies are baked. Two people cut logs of dough into exact cookie shapes, while two others stud them with chocolate chips with utmost concentration. Next door, a team of Muskaan workers makes lemon squash and pickles. "We've simplified the recipes and today, as you can see, they take care of all the work and the results are absolutely delicious!" Later, I taste the bread and the chocolate chip cookies, and they're truly delicious.

The stationery unit, spices packaging unit and jewellery unit are equally abuzz with activity. Everywhere in Muskaan, there's a palpable energy, a sense of purpose. As I observe individuals weigh exact amounts of spices before sealing them, I wonder at the complexity of tasks that some are capable of. "They have all learnt to do more and more. We've learnt in Muskaan that every individual does indeed have the power to improve, the ability to learn. Not as much as you and I, but as per his/her own standards," says she. "And when they are given responsibilities and a little autonomy, the learning curve is steeper."

Many of her ideas for Muskaan have grown out of her experiences with her own son, Puneet, born with Down's Syndrome and now in his 30s. A member of Muskaan's training programme that offers placements in mainstream jobs, Puneet now works in a hotel. Sometimes, he chafes against his long work day. "I told him he could stay in Muskaan, have shorter hours and earn less money. Or he could go to the hotel, be more independent and earn more money," Auluck says. Puneet chose the harder option and hasn't looked back. "At Muskaan, we don't just want to impart vocational skills," says she. "Our aim is to let each individual reach her/her fullest potential and improve their quality of life," says she. In return, her life as a parent has also undergone a transformation. "At first, when Puneet was born, I was traumatised! Today he's my best friend and biggest support."

Over the years, Auluck's interactions with parents made her realise that their biggest fear was what would happen to their progeny after they were gone. Two years ago, she was able to start a small care home on the outskirts of Delhi. Currently, it is occupied by 15 people, but Auluck plans to double the capacity in the coming years. "I'm planning for it to eventually become a gated community of group homes where seven to eight people can live independently with a caregiver," says she. All this requires capital, but Auluck isn't worried. "All my life, I've found that somehow, money has miraculously appeared to fuel all Muskaan's projects," she smiles. Muskaan's list of donors includes both individuals and organisations, but increasingly, the sales of their products have been making a sizeable contribution as well.

For an organisation that began in a garage, a part time preoccupation for Auluck, then a lecturer in Lady Shri Ram College, Muskaan has certainly come a long way. "It seems like a lot, but Muskaan and all my children have taught me that with love in your heart, there's nothing you can't accomplish in this world…" says she.

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*To know more about Muskaan, visit http://muskaan-delhi.com/ or its Facebook page. You can buy its cakes, cookies, pickles and more from Sector B, Pocket 2, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi

**Next fortnight, a government school in Delhi is part of a global education experiment in which students are given the wings to embark on intellectual adventures by grandmotherly mentors across the world, over Skype