AFNA Field Visit - Ashaneer -2026

AFNA steward Nabarun Das visits Ashaneer in Guwahati in February 2026.

Ashaneer is a special needs children home, now running at full capacity with an increase from 17 to 25 since last year. Some of the children have also been rehabilitated back to their former home. The category of these children have cerebral palsy , downs syndrome, severe locomotor disability and sensory disability (blindless and deafness). During his visit, Nabarun was able to meet and interact with all the staff members and the children.

1.      The children and staff members seemed happy with the current conditions of the home and we had a live session discussion on the living conditions, infrastructure and general needs to improve the living conditions for the children

2.      A part time occupational therapist is present in the home who support the developmental and mental needs of the children to adapt to the current environment. The physiotherapist is now available full time which has improved the well-being of the children

3.      Government funds for the home has been now fully suspended so they function solely on donations. There is a doctor who offers his services for free but medical checkups, emergency hospital visits, medicines and other special needs for children with disability always bear an upfront cost.

4.      Children have started to get heavily involved on vocational activities and are very well mannered and disciplined (which was a welcome  surprise for me during my visit) and they seemed quite spirited despite their mental and physical incapacitation. I visited during a time where they just finished preparing holi colors which they are apparently selling for a modest income.

5.      Few of the girls are also able to start going to regular school and the best thing was to see 2 of the children from upstairs Kalyani Niwas (who now have graduated) work as full time employees for the Ashaneer home

To learn more about the program see https://www.assamfoundation.net/projects-1/kind