Summer’s here in Vellalore, and while the sunshine brings joy, keeping the kids entertained can be a challenge. But worry not, parents! Here are some smart summer tips that combine fun and learning:

• DIY Days: Beat the heat indoors with creative projects! Explore themes like “Under the Sea” or “Outer Space” with paper crafts, finger painting, or building models from recycled materials.

• Backyard Bonanza: Turn your backyard into a summer oasis! Pitch a tent for some backyard camping (complete with storytelling under the stars!), set up an obstacle course, or create a mini-garden project together.

• Community Connection: Check out local parks and community centers for summer events. They might have movie nights under the stars, nature walks, or even workshops on things like origami or cooking.

• Learning Adventures: Summer is a great time to explore new skills or revisit old ones. Helen O’Grady preschool in Vellalore offering summer programs. These programs could focus on languages, music, or even basic coding. They provide a stimulating environment for your child to learn and socialize during the break.

• Rainy Day Reads: Rainy days are perfect for cozying up with a good book. Visit your local library for story time sessions or explore different genres together. You can even create a summer reading challenge and track your progress!

Remember, summer is a chance to learn, explore, and bond with your child. Embrace the sunshine, make the most of these precious moments, and create lasting summer memories!

Contact us Helen O’Grady Preschool in Vellalore today to learn more about our summer programs and admissions process!

Summer’s here, and the kids are out of school! It’s a time for fun, relaxation, and making memories. But with the scorching heat, keeping the little ones entertained and safe can be a challenge. Here are some tips to help you navigate the summer months:

Beat the Heat: The sun is at its strongest during the day. Plan outdoor activities for early mornings or evenings. Make sure your child stays hydrated by carrying a water bottle everywhere. Opt for breathable, lightweight clothing and pack a hat for sun protection.

Embrace the Indoors: Libraries often have children’s programs and reading time during the summer. Rainy days are perfect for arts and crafts, board games, or educational movies. Consider enrolling your child in a summer camp with activities that pique their interest.

Get Creative with Water Play: Beat the heat with sprinklers, water balloons, or a kiddie pool in the backyard. Public pools are also a great option for a refreshing dip.

Learning Never Stops: Summer is a fantastic time to explore new hobbies or revisit forgotten ones. Helen O’Grady Preschool in Sai baba colony often offer summer programs that can keep your child’s mind active and engaged. Look for programs that focus on storytelling, science experiments, or even basic coding! These programs can be a great way to bridge the gap between school years and keep your child learning. If you’re looking for preschool options in Sai baba colony for the upcoming school year or even summer programs, Heleno grady is the best choice.

Plan Playdates: Social interaction is crucial for a child’s development. Organize playdates with friends or neighbors for some outdoor fun or indoor games.

Remember, summer is a time to unwind and have fun with your child. Relax, create lasting memories, and make the most of this special time together!

Introduction:
As the days grow longer and warmer, summer brings endless opportunities for fun and adventure with your kids. From outdoor activities to family vacations, it\’s a season filled with cherished memories waiting to be made. Here are some tips to help you navigate the joys of parenting during the summer months.

Embrace Outdoor Play:
Encourage your children to spend time outdoors, soaking up the sunshine and fresh air. Plan trips to the park, go for nature walks, or set up a backyard picnic. Outdoor play not only promotes physical activity but also stimulates creativity and imagination.

Stay Hydrated:
With the heat of summer, it\’s essential to keep your little ones hydrated. Always have water readily available, especially during outdoor activities. Encourage frequent water breaks and avoid sugary drinks that can lead to dehydration.

Sun Safety:
Protect your children from the sun\’s harmful rays by applying sunscreen regularly, especially if you\’ll be spending extended periods outdoors. Invest in hats, sunglasses, and lightweight clothing with UV protection to shield their delicate skin.

Create a Summer Bucket List:
Sit down as a family and brainstorm a list of activities you\’d like to do together during the summer. Whether it\’s visiting a local zoo, going camping, or learning a new hobby, having a summer bucket list adds excitement and anticipation to the season.

Foster Learning Opportunities:
Summer is an ideal time to engage your children in hands-on learning experiences. Visit museums, libraries, or enroll them in educational programs like summer camps or classes. Look for opportunities to stimulate their curiosity and expand their knowledge in fun and interactive ways.

Balance Structure and Flexibility:
While it\’s essential to have a routine, especially for younger children, summer offers a chance to embrace a more relaxed schedule. Allow for spontaneous adventures and downtime, but maintain consistency with meal times, bedtime routines, and other essential activities.

Stay Connected:
Summer is a great time for family bonding and creating lasting memories. Make time for meaningful conversations, game nights, or simple activities like stargazing in the backyard. Disconnect from screens and enjoy quality time together as a family.

Conclusion:
As you navigate the joys of summer parenting, remember to savor each moment and embrace the opportunities for growth and connection with your children. By following these tips, you can make the most of the season and create cherished memories that will last a lifetime.

And hey, if you\’re in Saravanampatti and looking for a preschool in Saravanampatti for your little one, consider checking out Helen O\’Grady Preschool in Saravanampatti, where they combine learning and play in a nurturing environment perfect for summer adventures!

Introduction:
As the days grow longer and warmer, summer brings endless opportunities for fun and adventure with your kids. From outdoor activities to family vacations, it’s a season filled with cherished memories waiting to be made. Here are some tips to help you navigate the joys of parenting during the summer months.

Embrace Outdoor Play:
Encourage your children to spend time outdoors, soaking up the sunshine and fresh air. Plan trips to the park, go for nature walks, or set up a backyard picnic. Outdoor play not only promotes physical activity but also stimulates creativity and imagination.

Stay Hydrated:
With the heat of summer, it’s essential to keep your little ones hydrated. Always have water readily available, especially during outdoor activities. Encourage frequent water breaks and avoid sugary drinks that can lead to dehydration.

Sun Safety:
Protect your children from the sun’s harmful rays by applying sunscreen regularly, especially if you’ll be spending extended periods outdoors. Invest in hats, sunglasses, and lightweight clothing with UV protection to shield their delicate skin.

Create a Summer Bucket List:
Sit down as a family and brainstorm a list of activities you’d like to do together during the summer. Whether it’s visiting a local zoo, going camping, or learning a new hobby, having a summer bucket list adds excitement and anticipation to the season.

Foster Learning Opportunities:
Summer is an ideal time to engage your children in hands-on learning experiences. Visit museums, libraries, or enroll them in educational programs like summer camps or classes. Look for opportunities to stimulate their curiosity and expand their knowledge in fun and interactive ways.

Balance Structure and Flexibility:
While it’s essential to have a routine, especially for younger children, summer offers a chance to embrace a more relaxed schedule. Allow for spontaneous adventures and downtime, but maintain consistency with meal times, bedtime routines, and other essential activities.

Stay Connected:
Summer is a great time for family bonding and creating lasting memories. Make time for meaningful conversations, game nights, or simple activities like stargazing in the backyard. Disconnect from screens and enjoy quality time together as a family.

Conclusion:
As you navigate the joys of summer parenting, remember to savor each moment and embrace the opportunities for growth and connection with your children. By following these tips, you can make the most of the season and create cherished memories that will last a lifetime.

And hey, if you’re in Saravanampatti and looking for a preschool in Saravanampatti for your little one, consider checking out Helen O’Grady Preschool in Saravanampatti, where they combine learning and play in a nurturing environment perfect for summer adventures!

https://unsplash.com/photos/person-holding-red-and-white-pen-sJuDgtkUyYs

Helen O’Grady International was founded by Helen O’Grady, Executive Director, a qualified teacher in Perth, Australia in 1979. The company works in the sector of education across 40 countries of the world in the spheres of speech and drama, teacher training, drama in education, Trinity courses and many others.

The rich experience gained through implementation of these programs across several countries has culminated in the development of the Helen O’Grady International Early Learning solutions curriculum for our preschools.

In India Helen O’Grady International was launched in India by Harsh Seksaria, Director of Govind Knowledge Ventures Pvt. Ltd. The ‘Seksaria Brothers’ is a 100-year-old industrial house, which has actively worked in the field of education through their many trusts and have set up several schools and colleges in the states of Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Rajasthan. Helen O’Grady International is the world’s largest after-school developmental drama programme. Over one million children are enrolled in this programme globally. In India alone, the programme has won the prestigious Best Innovative After-School Programme Award by the Indian Education Congress for three consecutive Years (2014, 2015 and 2016). It all began in Australia in 1979, when Helen O\\\’Grady, a trained drama teacher and actress, hired a hall and commenced affordable after school drama classes for students from 3 to 18 years of age.

There are over 50 franchisees of Helen O’Grady International preschool in Coimbatore spread across India operating centers in 60 towns and cities in its Edu-Drama Academies since last 20 years in India. Helen O’Grady International, a well-established brand in the field of Education and developmental drama has long been associated with pre-school education through its Early Childhood Care and Education Course (ECCE) for pre-school teachers. In addition, Helen O’Grady International has also been delivering courses of Kindy Drama, focusing on a sound grounding in early childhood language to pre-school learners across the world. Being so well versed in the franchise system and being experienced in servicing the preschool industry, Helen O’Grady is proud to launch its preschools with its assurance of quality.

Launching the Helen O’Grady International Preschool

While our parent company is celebrating 5 decades of existence and a spread of over 40 countries in the world, the Helen O’Grady International Preschool is the brainchild of the India Office. It was launched in India, In Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu in April, 2018 by Mrs. Arpita Mittal, CEO, Helen O’Grady Operations for India and the Middle East and Mr. Duncan Rice, Director, CrEd International, South Africa.
The Helen O’Grady International Preschool – Our Curriculum
The Helen O’Grady International Preschool uses a unique curriculum designed with the best practices for early learning used in different approaches, philosophies and countries across the world. It uses the emotional development aspect of the Waldorf approach, uses the sensory development approach of the Montessori method, it keeps in mind the Head, the Hand and the Heart approach to education proposed by Mahatma Gandhi, it includes elements of integral education propounded by the Aurobindo Philosophy and is mainly inspired by the Reggio Emilia Approach.

What does Reggio Inspired mean?

The curriculum is influenced by the Reggio Emilia approach to teaching and learning and believes that children have a hundred languages (ways) to express themselves. Therefore art, music, drama and dance are integrated into the curriculum.

Our image of the child is rich in potential, strong, powerful, competent and most of all, connected to adults and children.

Are we compliant with India’s National Educational policy and the Global Curriculum Framework of the OECD?

India has recently adopted the National Educational Policy 2020 (https://www.education.gov.in/sites/upload_files/mhrd/files/NEP_Final_English_0.pdf) and the Helen O’Grady International preschool curriculum is aligned to the same. Our curriculum is developed keeping in mind the National Curricular Framework and the Learning Outcomes defined thereof (https://ncert.nic.in/dee/pdf/Combined_Pre_school_curriculumEng.pdf) . Our curriculum also keeps in mind the perspectives of inclusion and environmental and sustainable development as defined by the OECD (https://www.oecd.org/education/2030-project/teaching-and-learning/learning/ ) and keeping in mind the higher order thinking skills that need to be developed. The Assessment at the Helen O’Grady International Preschool is observation based and focuses on skill development and competency achieved.

Taking a 2-crore term insurance policy is a pivotal financial move that offers safety and tranquillity to your dear ones if any unfortunate incidents happen. Term insurance is a kind of life insurance that guarantees coverage for a particular period, and such a 2-crore policy provides extensive financial protection for your family’s future. Not only does it give your family financial support in your absence, but it also proves to be a tax-effective investment.

Strategies to consider for a 2 crore term insurance policy – 

∙       Determine your coverage needs

While evaluating your coverage needs for a 2 crore term insurance policy, take into account variables like your present debts, aspirations for the future, and the type of life you want for your family. Working out these aspects will determine a proper coverage amount that is sufficient to safeguard your loved ones financially in the event of your absence.

∙       Opt for a longer policy term

Ensuring a longer policy term for your 2-crore term insurance also safeguards your family for a longer time. This will give you peace of mind because your long-term financial security will be taken care of even when you cannot be there to support them.

∙       Compare premiums

To make sure that you have the best deal on your 2-crore term insurance, you should always research and compare premiums from various insurance providers. Through price comparison, you will be able to determine which option is more economical yet has all the benefits you need.

∙       Understand policy exclusions

It is necessary to get knowledge about any event or condition that the policy does not cover. Policy exclusions provide you with a way of managing expectations and addressing any gaps in coverage by purchasing additional riders or policies.

∙       Add riders

When acquiring a 2-crore term insurance policy, consider adding riders such as critical sickness or accidental death benefits to increase your coverage. These riders provide financial protection in addition to the base coverage amount and can be adjusted to your unique requirements.

∙       Disclose information truthfully

Providing correct information about your health and lifestyle when applying for a 2-crore term insurance policy is critical to avoiding future claim denials. Full disclosure guarantees that your policy stays legal and that your beneficiaries receive the desired benefits without any difficulties.

∙       Regularly review your policy

To ensure that a 2-crore term insurance policy stays relevant to your financial condition, you must examine your coverage needs on a regular basis. Making modifications as needed ensures that your insurance continues to offer enough coverage for your family.

∙       Nominate beneficiaries

To ensure that a 2-crore term insurance policy stays relevant to your financial condition, you must examine your coverage needs on a regular basis. Making modifications as needed ensures that your insurance continues to offer enough coverage for your family.

∙       Consider joint policies

Opting for a combined coverage with your spouse for a 2-crore term insurance gives financial security for both parties. Joint insurance provides dual coverage and can help ensure that both people are financially secure in the event of an unexpected occurrence.

∙       Invest in a waiver of premium rider

Incorporating a waiver of premium rider into your 2-crore term insurance policy guarantees that your coverage continues even if you are unable to pay payments due to incapacity. This rider provides additional financial stability by waiving future premium payments in the event of a disabling ailment.

∙       Choose the right payout option

A 2-crore term insurance plan provides you with the flexibility to choose either a lump sum payout or a regular income for your family. The option of payout you should select should match the financial requirements and objectives of your family, thus ensuring that they are adequately supported financially in your absence.

∙       Factor in inflation

Consider the inflation in deciding the cover amount of your 2-crore term insurance policy. Inflation is taken into consideration so that the amount of coverage will retain its value over time, and your beneficiaries will have enough financial protection in the future.

∙       Avail tax benefits

How to save tax on term insurance may be a wondered question. Use the tax deductions that are applicable on premium payments for your 2-crore term insurance policy under section 80C of the Income Tax Act. These tax benefits enable you to save on taxes and secure your family’s financial future through insurance coverage.

∙       Opt for online purchase

Choosing to buy a 2-crore term insurance policy online can save you money and time. The Internet allows people to shop hassle-free at attractive premiums with easy policy management and this makes online insurance attractive for tech-savvy people.

∙       Seek professional advice

Working with a financial consultant before buying a 2-crore term life insurance policy can assist you in making wise choices crafted based on your unique financial status. A professional insurance advisor will help you to obtain individualised advice and information and to make sure that your insurance choices match your long-term financial goals and objectives.

Who should consider a 2-crore term insurance policy?

The financial support of a spouse, children or aged parents implies the need for a 2-crore term insurance policy. This is more so for people who already have significant debts like mortgages or education expenses. Additionally, the people who would like to ensure their family’s financial safety and build a safety net for the unanticipated events need to first secure term insurance. By purchasing a 2-crore policy, you ensure that your loved ones are financially secure in your absence, ensuring their well-being and security even during difficult times. Planning for the future with proper insurance coverage provides peace of mind and a strong financial foundation for your family.

Purchasing a term insurance policy not only provides financial security but also serves as a buffer against uncertainty, providing stability and support to your family members during tough times. With the ever-changing dynamics of life, having significant term insurance coverage guarantees that your loved ones can maintain their level of living and fulfil their financial demands even if you are no longer around to provide for them. It demonstrates your dedication to their well-being while also leaving a financial legacy that will last beyond your lifetime. By taking this proactive move, you are establishing the groundwork for your family’s future security and prosperity, ensuring them financial stability even in your absence.

Introduction

Teeth veneers are a popular cosmetic dentistry option for enhancing the appearance of your smile. Veneers are thin, custom-made shells that are bonded to the front surface of your teeth to improve their color, shape, size, or length. In this article, we\\\’ll explore how veneers can enhance your smile and what you need to know about this cosmetic Dental braces price.

1. Improving Tooth Color

Veneers can be used to cover stains and discolorations that cannot be removed with teeth whitening treatments. They can provide you with a bright, white smile that looks natural and beautiful.

2. Correcting Tooth Shape and Size

Veneers can also be used to improve the shape and size of your teeth. They can correct teeth that are too small, too large, or have uneven shapes, giving you a more balanced and harmonious smile.

3. Closing Gaps and Spaces

If you have gaps or spaces between your teeth, veneers can be used to close these gaps and create a more uniform appearance. This can improve the overall aesthetics of your smile.

4. Repairing Chipped or Worn Teeth

Veneers can also be used to repair chipped, cracked, or worn teeth. They can restore the strength, function, and appearance of damaged teeth, helping you achieve a more confident smile.

5. Long-lasting Results

With proper care, veneers can last for many years, providing you with a long-lasting solution for enhancing your smile. Regular dental check-ups and good oral hygiene practices can help extend the lifespan of your veneers.

Conclusion

Teeth veneers are a versatile cosmetic dentistry option that can enhance your smile and improve your overall confidence. Whether you want to improve the color, shape, size, or alignment of your teeth, veneers can provide you with a natural-looking and long-lasting solution. Talk to your dentist to learn more about how veneers can benefit you and whether they are the right option for your smile makeover.

More Details Visit : Dental implants cost | Implant teeth price in Malaysia | Children braces | Braces for kids | Braces price selangor | Dental braces price | Dental paediatrician | Kids dentist | Teeth veneer cost | Invisible braces dentist | Tidental

Imagine studying for 2 or 3 or 4 or 5 whole years for the JEE exam only to find out that there’s only a very, very slim chance of getting into an IIT. It is a fact widely acknowledged that the IIT-JEE is one of the toughest exams not just in India but in the whole world. Apart from IITs, the NITs and IIITs of India also accept the JEE scores for admission. There are said to be a total of 23 IITs, 31 NITs and 25 IIITs across the country.

Now, let’s first get a few facts about the IITs right. First, according to the NIRF rankings of 2023, only 17 IITs rank in the top 50 engineering colleges of India and only a few (around 5) IITs are in the list of the world’s top 100 engineering colleges. Second, the dropout rate of IIT-qualifying students stands at least at 20%, with reasons being cited ranging from academic pressure and unmanageable workload to caste discrimination and high levels of competition within the IIT. So, it’s quite clear that the journey of making it through IIT is as challenging as the journey of getting into an IIT. Third and most important of all, the acceptance rate or the odds of getting into an IIT are below 3% which is a lot lower than the acceptance rate of highly and very highly ranked US universities. Four, getting into an IIT of one’s choice doesn’t mean one will also get into a branch of one’s preference at that IIT.

As for the NITs and the IIITs, according to the 2023 NIRF rankings, only 22 NITs were in the top 100 engineering colleges of India, of which only 11 were in the top 50, while only 3 of the 25 IIITs were in the top 100 engineering colleges of India while none was in the top 50. Besides, getting into an IIT (or an NIT for that matter) doesn’t guarantee job placement (or even graduation). In fact, IITs are facing a major job placement issue (if not a crisis).

The calculations that follow are not exact, but the purpose is to give the reader a rough but fair enough idea about the chances of making it to an IIT or NIT. In 2023, around 11 lakh unique students appeared for the JEE exam and there were around 17K seats in all the IITs and so, assuming that all these students wanted to get into an IIT as their first choice, the odds of getting an IIT seat were as low as 1.56% (that is, there was a nearly 98.44% chance of not getting the seat). Similarly, for the same year, NITs offered near about 24K engineering seats, meaning that if students wanted to get into either an IIT or an NIT as their most preferred choices, then the chances of getting into either of the two were as low as 3.7% (which means a nearly 96.3% chance of not getting in). When one realizes and understands how the odds are very much stacked against any student, is there a point in still pursuing these institutes so aggressively and spending so much of one’s valuable time, energy, money and efforts on not-at-all-easy preparations?

The rigorous preparations for cracking JEE for IIT certainly takes a toll on one’s overall well-being. Is there, then, any point in spending hard-earned money and savings or taking out a loan for IIT-JEE coaching classes? Also, taking admission into the “best coaching classes” doesn’t guarantee admission or a seat of your choice in an IIT or NIT. Then, sending children to a different city (or place) to study for IIT-JEE doesn’t really seem to be worth it at all. And, if spending tens of lakhs of rupees (on coaching in coaching institutes and other expenses for the IIT-JEE preparation) is the idea, then might as well complete the undergraduate studies from a better ranked university abroad.

Questions that are of far more importance and relevance here are:-

1. Is a student certain that engineering is what the student truly wishes to pursue?
2. Does the student really want to live away from home for IIT-JEE preparation or even while pursuing engineering?
3. Does the student feel that the student should compete for an IIT or NIT seat that there is a less than 5% chance of getting (or in other words, over 95% chance of NOT getting)?
4. Does one really find it worth it to spend lakhs of rupees on IIT-JEE preparations when the odds of getting into an IIT are so low?

Sure, children should be taught to aspire to be successful, but what everyone needs to understand here is that success can mean different things to different people – for someone, success might mean getting a dream home/car/job, while for someone it might mean getting a chance to serve the underprivileged, while for someone else it could mean feeling content and living a healthy life and for somebody else it could mean being able to pursue their hobbies to their heart’s content.

Today, you don’t have to be an IIT student to be able to do innovative research or to have your innovative solutions taken seriously. It’s, thus, important to consider other factors such as the location of college also while planning which colleges to aim for. Why not make life easier for the student and shift the focus of studies on engineering entrance exams where there are better chances of success and of getting into a college and branch of one’s liking? After getting into an engineering college, one can, then, choose the path of working towards pursuing a master’s degree from a university abroad that has a better ranking than the IITs and way better odds of getting into compared to an IIT or NIT. It’s so, so important to spread awareness regarding this among everybody. If you are reading this, please give it some thought.

It’s always better to take well-informed decisions and think properly and thoroughly before getting into something as intensive and demanding as the JEE exam studies and preparations. And so, it’s crucial to teach children that IITs aren’t the only way to achieve whatever dreams a child may have and that there are multiple paths that can lead to a successful, happy and comfortable life. The idea of this post is not to discourage anybody from achieving their dreams but for every one of us to realize that giving too much importance to one exam is not really fair and may not actually be in the interest of students and their career. Thus, JEE preparations for IIT may just not be the right or sensible choice for so many of us.

With you,
I felt like this is my conclusion.
I collected everything that I knew about you,
Your everything, favorites.
From coffee to food,from black to blues.
That how life is and how rain amuses you.
I ended up with a gist.
My heart added broken dreams to be with you,
Beautiful but empty home to live .
To met you was a tragic accident, I lost my heart.
Initially, I finalized to see your face and die.
But the end is more sad than a funeral.
The last days with you were life to me
Thinking about reincarnation,
I would just be in love to be with you or else there is no me in any parallel universe.
Meeting would make us more weak and timid of being together . You have always blaspheme your heart when you see me with a person. We couldn’t but only free fall in the embrace of peace,sanity and pure love. Love made me crawl for you,you cradled me with extreme care and beyond love.
Everyday with you has kept me lived happy
Our mutual murder has left me with the loss of words that I fail to express. Nothing can actually define the utter despair and depression, as I write with the audacity of being fragile and painful cold fingertips.
Being loved from being unloved is such a disaster.
As I stumble to write,I wipe my tears
Hoping to see you soon in life some other way.
Remaining yours,
Till death us apart.

-Randhir kaur

It is amazing when a person turns personal adversity into a calling, and extends empathy to make a significant impact in the lives of other people. This has been the life’s journey of Dr Nalini Parthasarathi.

April 17 is World Hemophilia Day. Dr Nalini Parthasarathi, 79, based in Puducherry has dedicated 30 years of her life caring for people suffering from hemophilia. She was honoured with the Padma Shri in 2023.

Hemophilia is a condition where one or more clotting factor is absent leading to bleeding. Severe cases can be life-threatening.

It was her poor health during her childhood and growing years that made Dr Nalini a compassionate doctor. She was hospitalized repeatedly and had multiple surgeries in childhood. She turned her adversity into an opportunity to help others.

An excellent student

Undeterred by her uncertain health, she was an excellent student both in school and college. “My poor health motivated me to become a doctor. Also, having met so many doctors through my childhood, I was naturally attracted to the profession,” she says. Completing her MD in pediatrics at JIPMER Puducherry, she worked there as a consultant.

“I looked after thalassemia and leukemia patients at the hospital. Since I was handling blood disorders, people started bringing their children with hemophilia to me. I underwent special training in pediatric hematology with special reference to hemophilia, maternal and child health and neonatalogy,” relates Dr Nalini.

She has practised as a pediatrician for 50 years. “I have always had empathy for my little patients because of my own illnesses in childhood. In fact, I know all about the families of my child patients,” she says with a smile.

Raising awareness

Her deep desire to help children and adults suffering from hemophilia led her to take voluntary retirement from JIPMER. She established the Hemophilia Society in Puducherry, of which she is founder-president. She was also instrumental in setting up the Hemophilia Society at Karaikal.

She has raised awareness about hemophilia in and around Puducherry. Thanks to her continuous efforts, treatments for persons with hemophilia are today available in Puducherry and Karaikal. For her contributions, Dr Nalini is fondly known as the ‘Mother Theresa of Puducherry’.

Dr Nalini has published more than 100 papers in national and international journals and conducted workshops all over India. She has contributed articles in newspapers and magazines on hemophilia. She has also participated in radio and television programmes.

A lack of the clotting factor in blood

“Not much was known about hemophilia in those days. It was known as a ‘royal disorder’ as many members of Queen Victoria’s family had the disorder. Hemophilia is a deficiency disease. There is one or more clotting factor in the blood that is absent in those suffering from the condition. So, when blood oozes it does not clot. Sometimes, for months together, bleeding continues. Hemophilia is a genetic disorder and women are usually carriers. Their male offspring have a 25% chance of developing the condition,” she explains.

According to statistics, around 1 in 10,000 people in India have hemophilia. But mild cases don’t come to hospitals. So, the reported figures are only the tip of the iceberg.  In the all-India registry, only four lakh people with hemophilia are registered.

Bleeding can occur into joints, muscles, or organs like stomach or kidney. Hemophilia can often lead to emergency situations.

Making free treatment accessible

“We did not have proper investigation facilities at JIPMER to confirm the diagnosis for hemophilia. At that time, treatment also involved giving plasma and blood which in some cases led to the person contracting HIV,” she rues.

At that time, CMC Vellore had training facilities. JIPMER deputed a doctor and lab technician for training to CMC. They came back to set up a coagulation lab in JIPMER. “I learnt about the Hemophilia Federation India in Delhi which provides treatment by giving intravenous injections of the ‘clotting factor’. The medicine is very expensive and was imported at that time. A vial with 500 units costs Rs 10,000 today and is not available commercially.”

Dr Nalini started the Hemophilia Society, Puducherry chapter, informally in the early 1970s.  Initially, she had 20 patients and the society was running from her office. Diagnosis and treatment (factor) are given free for all patients at our chapter.

Physiotherapy is an important part of treatment.  Swimming and cycling are also good activities for those suffering from hemophilia. “If there is a family history of hemophilia, women should get tested before marriage. If one child has hemophilia, I tell women not to have a second child,” says Dr Nalini.

Voluntary retirement

JIPMER is a busy place and she could not do much for patients of hemophilia. “We went in a group to the Chief Minister and said we wanted to start a small centre. He gave us a small piece of land. In 2003, he requested Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) to build the centre for us with CSR funds. In 2005, we inaugurated our centre.”

Many philanthropists have offered financial assistance to run the Hemophilia Society at Puducherry.  A US organization called ‘Save One Life’ gives scholarships to 40 children having hemophilia up to college level. Our society provides financial assistance to women from poor, underprivileged segments of society who have children with hemophilia.

Today, I have 300 patients. I have patients from the age of six months to 65 years!  Mothers of hemophilia patients have formed a support group. We also have a youth group as some young patients have committed suicide causing alarm in the community.

Cherished moments

Children with hemophilia come crying to me in pain. When I give them the medicine, they go off to sleep. They get up and smile at me. Those are my most cherished moments.

I have lived alone in Puducherry for 50 years. I like the quiet atmosphere and friendly people. I enjoy the beaches. Of course, it has become crowded now.

As for the Padma Shri I received this year, I have dedicated it to the hemophilia community, especially my children with hemophilia.

Image source: YouTube