About Us

Our Story

India is home to over 1.42 billion residents. More than 2.2 per cent (2 crores 99 lakhs) of this population endures some form of severe mental or physical disability. Yet, the differently abled group is still struggling to earn their place in the mainstream. The government runs plenty of schemes for differently abled persons, but society still hasn’t accepted them as a part. People with disabilities are often treated differently, and society fails to show empathy towards them, let alone respect them.

We came together after realising that an individual’s efforts to bring up a child with multiple disabilities are inadequate. We came together to help, guide and create organisational support for each other. In 2005, we started our Day-Care facility at Thane (Mumbai) and received an amazing response from the parents, caregivers and children. To provide our children with better facilities and fulfil their needs, we felt the need to have a better residential facility with a suitable infrastructure. This culminated in bulding a Respite Care Facility at Wada, located 80 km North of Mumbai. The concept of Respite Care Facility has been initiated with guidance from The Perkins International, Boston, USA.

What is Respite Care?

Respite Care is a type of short-term care that provides relief to individuals who are caring for a family member, friend or loved one who is elderly, disabled or has a chronic condition. The purpose of respite care is to give the primary caregiver a break from their caregiving duties so they can rest, recharge and attend to their personal needs. Respite care can last for a few hours or several days and is typically tailored to meet the individual needs of the care recipient and the primary caregiver. It is an important resource for families and individuals who are providing care for a loved one, as it helps reduce stress, prevent burnout and promote overall well-being.

Respite Care Facility at Tilsa, Wada, 80km North of Mumbai

Sobti’s Respite Care Facility provides a healthy working and living environment to our children/youngsters and helps them maximize their limited potential to lead happy and self-satisfying life. Qualified professionals look after, help and train our children/youngsters. Children go home over one weekend every month. They are transported between Wada to Thane (Mumbai) by a private bus facility provided by Sobti.

The Association doesn’t allow parents to abandon their children. In case if there is no one to look after the child or youngster after the parents’ or caregivers’ death, Sobti may take full responsibility for them.

This facility was inaugurated on 9th April 2017. Spread across 0.8 acres of land at Tilsa, near Wada, it has a total carpet area of 13,500 sq. ft., complete with separate dormitories and toilet blocks for boys and girls, a fully equipped kitchen and dining hall and an activity area of about 2500 sq. ft. There are five studio apartments on the first floor for guests, office bearers and members of the association. The children/youngsters, along with their teachers, reside on the ground floor.

Sustainable characteristics of the Facility

We are committed to providing a sustainable and environmentally conscious space for the children/youngsters to learn, grow, and thrive. We believe that sustainability is an essential aspect of creating a healthy and supportive environment, both for our residents and for the world around us. To that end, we have implemented a range of sustainability measures, including a state-of-the-art water filtration plant that ensures our residents have access to clean and safe drinking water. Our facility is 100% solar powered, with a robust solar energy system that powers our operations and generates excess energy that we supply to the State Electricity Board.

We have also set up a bio-waste chamber that allows us to manage and dispose of waste responsibly and sustainably, reducing our environmental impact and keeping our facility clean and healthy. Also, it helps us to utilize the organic manure from the bio-waste plant for trees in our garden. Additionally, we have implemented water conservation measures to ensure that we use this precious resource responsibly and efficiently.

By prioritizing sustainability, we are creating a space that supports the growth and development of our children/youngsters and contributes to a healthier, more sustainable world.

Respite Care Facility

Solar Water Heater

Roof Top - Solar Electric System

Water Filtration Plant

Our Daily Activities

Professional housekeepers staff the facility, and the children/youngsters are cared for by trained teachers and professionals. They have a structured daily schedule that starts at 7.30 am and ends at 10 pm with lights out. The schedule includes work hours, rest time and playtime. At present, our children/youngsters stay at the facility for three weeks before going home for three days.

Training Centre cum Workshop

We are planning to launch courses to train ‘Divangas’ in making Paper Files, Paper Dishes, Cloth Bags etc. at our upcoming Training Centre cum Workshop. With this view, a small piece of land has been purchased near our existing respite care facility, and once government formalities are completed, we shall set up a workshop on this land to start the training courses – step-by-step.