HIGHLIGHTS:
• Urja Mart in Kandivli seeks to empower specially abled in learning skills
• This initiative will help specially abled children getting jobs
• The supermarket, was launched on March 20 in Mahavir Nagar, Kandivli (West) by Dr Mihir Parekh and his wife
For Dhwani Shah, 17, knowing how to prepare a bill for goods purchased by a customer is an entirely new experience. For Abhiraj Singh, 17, it’s knowing where the dedicated noodle rack is and directing clients there. All of this is taking place at the newly opened Urja Mart, which is not your typical grocery.
About the supermarket
The supermarket, which was launched on March 20 in Mahavir Nagar, Kandivli (West) by Dr Mihir Parekh, a psychologist and special educator, and his wife Pooja Parekh, who have been working with children with special needs since 2008, intends to develop skill sets that would help them become employed. The mart attracted the attention of local inhabitants within a week of its debut, who came in to buy products.
Views of Pooja Parekh
“We’ve been working to educate and teach youngsters with special needs so that they can find work.” In our society, there are still misconceptions regarding them. “These kids may take a while to learn things, but once they do, they do it perfectly, just like everyone else,” says Dr. Parekh, who runs a rehabilitation and treatment centre with her husband. “As a result, we decided to open a store to provide these children with hands-on training,” she continues.
Aside from food and other consumer goods, the mart also sells handcrafted items such as customised mugs, t-shirts, and keychains, which are manufactured by the children. Neeta Ladhani, the mother of 18-year-old Nandini, visited the mart. “I came to see how my kid was doing. I’m both shocked and pleased to discover that she understands when stock is running low, which things need to be reordered, how to create bills, and how to calculate money. “This is a fantastic effort for children with unique needs,” she remarked.
