A brief note about UMEED
What is Umeed?
Umeed is a joint venture of Parents of mentally challenged children and Government Institute for Mentally Retarded Children, Sector 32, Chandigarh.
Aim
Job placement and social integration of mentally challenged persons in a congenial and protected environment.
Philosophy
Though the education and training of mentally challenged persons is a challenging task but the most difficult is to find a suitable job for these persons. Because of lack of essential educational qualification, these persons are not eligible for any of the government job and thus the provision of 3% reservation under the Persons With Disability Act 1995 has not contributed in the area of vocational rehabilitation of mentally challenged persons. These persons are also not given opportunities in the private sector because the employers have lot of misconceptions and negative attitude towards mentally challenged persons.
These persons are perceived as difficult to handle, violent, and non-productive. The poverty leads to mental retardation and the mental retardation leads to poverty because large amount of time and money is spend for the care of mentally challenged persons. Thus majority of the families with a mentally challenged persons have limited financial resources and find it difficult to start self production unit under self employment scheme.
In summary,
In view of these circumstances, the concept of UMEED was conceived. It was decided that the GIMRC, in consultation and approval of Chandigarh Administration will select appropriate places in Chandigarh for running Juice Bars, Snack Huts, PCO & STD Booth / Photostat Booth. Since there is no provision of such facility in the government budget, it was decided to get sponsorships from semi-government and private business houses for construction of kiosks as well as the necessary material including tea, coffee vending machine, juicer, hot case, microwave and crockery. Each fully furnished equipped booth cost approximately Rs. 60,000. it was decided to employ two children and one parent in one shift at each booth. The primary aim was:
a) To extend benefit to maximum families. i.e, six families have been rehabilitated in one booth i.e two parents and four children from different families
b) To create a protected and congenial atmosphere as these parents have sufficient understanding about the emotional needs and limitations of these children.
A policy decision was taken not to allot any booth to any one family/person. This was done with the aims of :
i) The family may not be in a position to run the booth regularly as lot of time is required for the care mentally challenged person
ii) Because of illness of parents or mentally challenged person the business may not be closed down.
iii) The family may not misuse the allotted site by renting it or selling it
iv) The family may not be in a position to invest the required money.
Thus it was decided that the income from all the kiosks/booths under UMEED will be deposited in a common bank account and after deducting the expenditure on the cost of fruits, electricity and other charges, the remaining income is divided as follow:
Upto now, 21 children and 06 parents have been employed under UMEED.
Fixed Assets of the UMEED = Rs. 2.20 /- Lacs
Approximate collection per month = Rs. 86,000 /-
Approximate expenditure per month = Rs. 48,000 /-
Net profit per month = Rs. 38,000 /-