In the heart of Dehradun lies tales of many heroes doing their bit to uplift the society and such is one story of Latika Foundation. A voluntary organisation nestled in the serene Dehradun, Latika has been a silent yet powerful revolution in the field of disability rights and inclusion since its inception.
What began as a humble effort in 1994 has today blossomed into a multifaceted resource centre, providing hope to countless lives through early learning opportunities, vocational training, education, and more.
It all began with 'Latika Vihar' in 1994, an inclusive neighbourhood children’s centre. While in 2002, Latika opened one of its first centres on the campus of St. Joseph’s Academy, providing therapy and assessments for children under five with disabilities. This also helped them receive a major grant from the Sir Ratan Tata Trust, encouraging them to aim higher with their dreams and contributions.
By 2005, Latika operated a full-fledged Centre for Vocational Training and a couple of years later, a disability resource centre for Uttarakhand, advocating further for outreach and inclusion.
In the recent years, Latika entered into a public-private partnership with the government to establish 'Gubbara' at the Doon Hospital, wherein an interdisciplinary team of specialists design home management plans for families, aiding children with disabilities to receive intensive care and early intervention.
"If you are a person with disability, a parent, a professional or someone who cares, there’s a place for you at Latika."Latika
The 2012 ‘NGO of the Year’ continues to expand, for instance them venturing into helping premature and at-risk babies, creating a safe ecosystem for underprivileged families, and more.
To know more about the NGO, visit https://latikaroy.org/ .