News

Computer Center Inauguration at National School, Ghatkopar on Wednesday 28 February 2018:

National School in Ghatkopar has been our Food Partner for a long time now and we really appreciate the efforts that this school has taken to educate the children of the community here, given the difficult conditions here. We are indeed pleased to announce that we gave 5 computers to them inorder to start Computer Education with the school children and on 28th February 2018 inaugurated the Ratna Nidhi Computer Center, which is now a full functional lab with 5 systems and a curriculum. Mrs. Jyotsna Mody, Head of Food Project at Ratna Nidhi did the honors of the ribbon cutting and spoke to the children about the importance of computers in this digital age. Mr.Sharma, the Principal of the school, was also present for this event and looks forward to making learning, more meaningful for his children.

1. Ratna Nidhi Computer Lab Inaugration @Tasneem Urdu School, Govandi on 26th January 2018:

Tasneem Urdu school has been associated with us for our food project where we provide meals to the children attending formal education. On this auspicious occasion of Republic Day, 26th January 2018 alongwith the National Flag hoisting by our staff member we also had the inaugration of the Ratna Nidhi Charitable Trust computer lab. We had given 10 computers to this school on 15th December 2017 and within a month we see the vast difference in the setup and structure of the computer lab. It gives us great pleasure to work with community schools who are constantly striving for the betterment of education for the marginalized children and who are dedicated to their cause. We would like to thank Mr. Nizamuddin Sheikh, the Principal and Trustee of this school and his team of staff and well wishers who have made this a possibility.

2. Ratna Nidhi Computer Center Inauguration @ Oasis India, Mumbai Central on 9th February 2018.

On Friday 9th February 2018, the Ratna Nidhi Charitable Trust Computer Center was launched at the Kamathipura hub of Oasis India. The event was inauguratedby Mrs. Jyotsna Mody who heads the Food for Education and Sponsorship program at Ratna Nidhi. She shared few words with the children and quizzed them about their future plans. Sweets were distributed to mark the beginning of this new journey of computer literacy.

Ratna Nidhi had given 5 computer hardware systems to Oasis India on 18th December 2017. Mrs. Shraddha Shelke, the Project Officer at Oasis India alongwith her team had been quite supportive and they plan to start regular computer classes for the children here whose mothers are into prostitution. We wish them all the best for their endeavors!

3. Ratna Nidhi Computer Center Inaugration @ Little Angels School, Bandra West on 23rd February 2018.

Mr. Jehangir Afshari, the Co-founder and Director of Little Angels School, Bandra along with Mrs. Jyotsna Mody, the Head of the Food Project at Ratna Nidhi Charitable Trust, inaugurated the Computer Center at the school premises on Friday 23rd February 2018 at 11am. This center will be used for imparting computer education to the children studying the NIOS curriculum here. It was really a special and heart-warming experience with this association of Little Angels and Ratna Nidhi partnering together to create a learning atmosphere for the special children. We are indeed grateful to Mr. Jehangir and his team of staff and workers who have put in their best efforts and dedication in setting the computer lab and training the children here. We hope that this school continues to spread smiles to the special children who are indeed 'angels' in this world of ours.

As a token of appreciation they handed over the items made by the special children here, namely pickle, jewellery, pouch, pencil holder amongst many others.

We were really delighted to expand our pilot of the Computer project to institutions other than our Food Partners. Holy Star English School @Malad-Malvani been one such example. This school is located in the dense slum of Malvani and has scattered classrooms with close to 1000 children studying here.

Despite the many difficult situations, the spirit of the Principal Mr. Hussain Munir Sheikh, his supportive teachers and Teach For India fellows is commendable.

We gave them 5 computers on Tuesday, 6th February 2018 and look forward to our partnership with them.

It gives us great joy to announce that the government organization - BEST Undertaking has partnered with Ratna Nidhi Charitable Trust to support the campaign - Make Mumbai Disability Free that was inaugurated by Hon. Mayor of Mumbai, Maharashta – Vishwanath Mahadeshwar on 14th August, 2017.

Mr. Anil Sadashiv Kokil, Chairman BEST Undertaking along with Mr. Rajiv Mehta, Trustee, Ratna Nidhi Trust and Mrs. Asha Mehta, Trustee, Ratna Nidhi Trust, announced this collaboration at the B.E.S.T Bhavan, Colaba.

Ratna Nidhi stickers offering FREE callipers and JaipurFoot (Amputed limbs) to people with disability will be stuck in 3400 BEST buses to let thousands of mumbaikars benefit from this campaign.

Streets of Mumbai were really brimming with joy & it looked so festive. More than 200 NGOs had participated in marathon to showcase their noble cause.

We also participated with our heartfelt cause of "Make Mumbai Disability Free". We had a Great Dhamaal in Dream Run. We were shouting the slogans of:

1) Make Mumbai Disability Free

2) We love Jaipur Foot

3) Walk & Run...walk & run...

We were also carrying creative banners / placards. We had following number of people supporting & runnning for our cause:

Half Marathon - 6

Full Marathon - 1

10K Run - 1

Dream Run - 77

Total - 85 people

9 out of 77 people in dream run were our heros who were walking with Jaipur Foot. Proving that Jaipur foot is a boon to them and now nothing can stop them!!!

We also had 2 stilt walkers walking tall with banners, making people aware about our cause.

We also had a huge 1000 feet wide banner...yes you have read it right...1000 feet banner... carrying the message of Make Mumbai Disability Free.

With your support and because of your enthisiasm for our cause, we have been able to get media attention.

Attached are few newpaper cuttings. Our cause was captured in following print & online media:

Print

1. Hindustan Times

2. The Hindu (Case Study covered)

3. Gujarat Samachar

4. Sakaal (only picture)

5. Gujarati Midday

Online

1. Mumbai Live - https://www.mumbailive.com/mr/sports/four-participants-ran-mumbai-marathon-wearing-jaipur-foot-19768?utm_medium=whatsapp-share&utm_source=website

2. The Hans India - http://www.thehansindia.com/posts/index/National/2018-01-22/Jaipur-foot-beneficiaries-from-Ratna-Nidhi-Trust-take-part-in-the--Tata-Mumbai-Marathon/353527

3. The Health Site - http://www.thehealthsite.com/news/jaipur-foot-beneficiaries-from-ratna-nidhi-trust-also-take-part-in-the-tata-mumbai-marathon-ag0118/

4. Youth Ki Awaaz - https://www.youthkiawaaz.com/2018/01/jaipur-foot-beneficiaries-from-ratna-nidhi-trust-take-part-in-the-tata-mumbai-marathon/?success=1