by Gladson D’Almeida for Daijiworld News Network

Mangalore, Feb 13: The very name Prajna evokes a ray of hope among the distressed, poor and marginalized sections of the society. Women feel protected, children feel cared and loved, distressed feel listened under the one roof called Prajna Counselling Centre.  Prajna Counselling Centre, Falnir, has been doing yeoman's service in the field of women and child welfare since 18 years.

Recognizing Prajna's service to the society, the government of Karnataka has awarded it with the prestigious "Republic Day Award" for the year 2005-06.  This is another glittering feather in the cap of Prajna Counselling Centre

Prof Hilda Rayappan, the director and the brain behind Prajna received the award in a glittering ceremony held at Rajbhavan, Bangalore on Thursday January 26. The award was given by state governor T N Chaturvedi.

Prajna Couselling Centre was set up in 1987 under the leadership of Prof Hilda Rayappan.  Ever since its inception it has been working selflessly ad has totally dedicated itself to the service of the poor and marginalized.  Prajna was one of the first organizations in the state to initiate child welfare programmes.

Prof Hilda Rayappan is not only the director of the centre but also the force that drives the centre.  With the support of the dedicated and committed trustees and staff members the centre has initiated several programmes, which have contributed in the emancipation of the women and children.  Prof Hilda Rayappan is a well-known counsellor in the city.  She has personally helped thousands of individuals to over come their problems and lead a happy normal life.

While counselling has been Prajna's forte, it has also implemented several programmes for the welfare of children and women. Women facing problems in their married life, children those who have been abandoned and not care by their families, young women bogged down with several problems, aged persons facing the wrath of their own children are given counselling and even helped to overcome and face their problems.

Prajna's service in the field of empowerment and emancipation of women is noteworthy.  Through Santwana Women's Help Line (1091) so far 4,622 women have been reached and helped.  More than 75 women and young girls are sheltered, care and nurtured through Short Stay Home and Swadhar projects.  With a scope to self-employment, these women have been rehabilitated.

Prajna has been rendering a rare service to the society in the form of De-addiction centre, under the roof of Vailankani Ward in Fr Muller Hospital.  So far 8, 353 men and 181 women alcoholics have been reached and helped through community camps and treatment.

Prajna is perhaps the first centre in the state to start Child Labour School.  So far 547 street children, rag pickers, child labourers, slum dwellers and children of the migrant workers have been reached through this programme.  Through Child Labour Special School and Bridge Course they have been brought back to the mainstream of the society.  Through the De-Institutionlisation programme, more than 260 children who had been away from their parents owing to several reasons such as poverty, single parents etc have been enables to live along with their parents.  The programme mainly aims at providing children with the love and care of their parents by taking them out from the institutions and placing them back in their families.

Another 25 orphan and destitute children have been reached and helped through Destitute Cottage while 38 girls who had been handed over to the centre either from government-run Children Homes (previously known as Remand Homes), Certified Schools etc have been rehabilitated through Fit Persons Institution. Through the family welfare projects 803 families coming under BPL list have been helped.  The centre through its projects has also helped in establishing Anganwadis in the communities.  Moreover many government schools have been provided with furniture and necessary things.

The centre has also been running 197 Self Help Groups (SHGs) for the empowerment and emancipation of women.  A federation of 100 SHGs has also been established through which more than 46 SHGs have availed loan through the community banking system and have started Income Generation Activities (IGPs).

In this way Prajna Couselling Centre has truly been a blessing to the women, children and other sections of the society who have been trampled, harassed and left at their peril.  It is silver lining amidst the thick clouds of despair, distress, injustice and negligence.

Prajna Counselling Centre
Falnir
Phone No: 2432682