| The trustees of 'ASTITVA' being fully aware of the magnitude of the task assumed to themselves decided to execute the task in phase depending upon the availability of funds. 'ASTITVA' made the modest beginning by starting a school for mentally retarded on November 01' 1981 with 22 students on roll at the Rotary Hall, Gokhale Compound, Dombivli (East). In order to go with a bang for collection of funds, a drive was launched under the leadership of Mr. Ashok Gori, a handicapped person himself on the auspicious occasion of the new year day according to Hindu ephemeries on March 26' 1982 to collect Rs. 17000. The fund collection drive proved to be tremendous success, in that, it registered an image of the Institute in the minds of the local population of Dombivli &, as a result, funds started flowing in at a good pace. |  |
| The trustees of 'ASTITVA' thought it prudent to purchase a plot of land admeasuring 2000 sq. mtrs for a total price of Rs. 1.40 lacs at Plot No.8, Phase I, MIDC, Dombivli in April, 1982. As the Rotary Club had allowed the Institute the use of their premises at Gokhale compound only for a period of six months upto April 1982 and with the Institute having no premises of its own, Dr. Adkar, the President of 'ASTITVA' and his neighbour and friend, Dr. Deodhar who remained with the Institute through thick and thin allowed the Institute the stilt portion of their residential building, Omkar, for running the school for the mentally retarded during the academic years 1982-83 and 1983-84. In October 1982, 'ASTITVA' started its wing for the deaf and mute in the residential premises of 'Omkar'. Due to paucity of space, two shift working was rendered necessary for the mentally retarded and the deaf and mute. The trustees were committed to shift the school from the residential premises before June 1984. They, therefore, accelerated the funds drive to be able to construct atleast a part of the ground floor on the plot of land at MIDC, Dombivli and were successful in accomplishing one-third of the ground floor out of the total complex as per the plans, in June 1984 when both the faculties were shifted to the new premises, partly accomplished though. | |
| In order to enable the mentally retarded above the age of 18 to be on their own the Sheltered Workshop was started by 'ASTITVA' in June 1989 with 70 students on roll. The 'ASTITVA's Sheltered Workshop is the first of its kind recognised by the Department of Social Welfare, Government of Maharashtra in the entire district of Thane. The trustees could not overlook the fact that there were quite a few mentally retarded persons who were incapable of receiving any education/training in the school or working in the sheltered workshop on account of their parent's inability to bring them to 'ASTITVA' everyday. The trustees therefore thought it desirable to start a hostel separately for boys and girls which was done on 26.01.1992 with 14 inmates, seven boys and seven girls. | |
| In response to the funds collection drive, Kagzi family, Kalyan Municipal Corporation, Shri Sai Shirdi Sanstha, Shri Siddivinayak Temple Trust, Mumbai and a host of philanthropic individuals and corporates came forward in a large number to lend a helping hand to the Institute. Besides, the students of different schools in Dombivli and Thane collected substantial donations from the members of the community. In addition, the voluntary donations also kept on pouring in due to good image of the Institute in the pursuit of which the local correspondents of the press played a pivotal role. | |
| 'ASTITVA' executed construction of premises in phases subject to availability of funds and accomplished construction of the three storey complex in entirety in March 1996 with a floor space of 25,500 square feet, well furnished and sufficiently equipped with the aids as may be necessary for different categories of handicaps. Today, the Institute has four faculties; viz: the School for the Mentally Retarded with 140 students on roll, the school for the deaf and mute, 'Karnabadhir Prabodhini' with 73 students on roll, the Sheltered Workshop with 87 students on roll and the residential hostel with 36 male in-mates and 19 female in-mates. | |
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'ASTITVA'
The only Institute in whole of the State of Maharashtra catering to the needs of different categories of handicaps under one roof. |
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