Pune is well known for its educational institutions. Some of the reputed schools of Pune include:

Kamayani Vidya Mandir

Kamayani Prashikshan & Sanshodhan Society

Established in the year 1964 by Smt. Sindhutai Joshi with two students, Kamayani Vidya Mandir, a school for the mentally challenged, has been working incessantly till date to help the special children up to the age of 6-8 years.

The organisation has psychiatrists and other doctors to examine the subject when s/he gets admitted. The procedure is carried out at the Child Guidance Clinic where s/he is kept under observation for three weeks. After having gone through this, the process of admission either to the school or to the workshop follows. Kamayani Prashikshan & Sanshodhan Society also runs a workshop, called the Kamayani Udyog Kendra, where various activities like book-binding, painting and weaving are conducted to help them earn their livelihood.

Excerpts from an interview with Ms M.P. Dharwadkar, the Principal of the school:

What are the daily activities in the school?

We have divided the children in various classes according to their age and mental ability. The school commences at 9:45 in the morning and ends at 4 in the evening. The day is divided into two sessions. The first session has academics while the second has extra curricular activities like Music, Drawing, P.T. and Craft.

Keeping with the times, we have introduced computers into our curriculum, including games. Apart from this, we also conduct martial arts classes to keep them physically fit. For girl students, there are home-science sessions where training in household activities like cooking, using of kitchen gadgets, etc., are imparted. We try and bring them up as normal children. We take them (especially boys) to treks and camps.

How does the workshop function?

Students of over the age of 18 are placed in the shop where they are trained in different skills like making candles, weaving, making clay models, book-binding, etc. There are around 100 students here. We at Kamayani feel that unless a person's work is appreciated, s/he cannot perform better. Thus the salaries are in appreciation of their efforts.

After their schooling here, are these students sent to any college?

No. As they lack mental capacity, it is not possible to send them to a college. But they work in workshops after schooling and get some stipend depending on their ability. In fact, we are planning to start a residential colony for students of older age group at Talegaon, on Mumbai-Pune National Highway.

Over the years, the school has bettered and grown into a premier humanitarian institution.

Address: Kamayani, CTS No 3024/11, Plot No. 270/B,
Gokhalenagar, Pune - 411 016,
Phone: 567 3529,
website: www.kamayani.org