Readers' Forum
“Helping the handicapped”
I read with interest the letter by Zarine Havewala ("Helping the handicapped,” Readers’ Forum, Parsiana, February 7, 2012). The letter seems to suggest that the Society for the Education of the Crippled (SEC) is a Parsi charity, which I must clarify, it is not.
The SEC was started by Fatema Ismail in 1960 in a very small way with a few children at the Chunilal Mehta Scout and Guide Hut in Bombay. The SEC has now grown into a big tree with three units of the school in Bombay and a Rural Centre for Independent Living at Kane Phata. The growth and success of the SEC is due to the joint efforts of several ladies both non-Parsi and Parsi. It was under the able guidance and dedicated services of Tehmina Barma that the SEC has grown and in fact the Tehmina Barma Rural Centre for Independent Living is named in her honor.
The tradition of having an annual Christmas party at the SEC was started way back in 1977 by the 13th East Scout Rover Group (St Xavier’s High School) and they continue with it every year to this day. They have regaled the children of the SEC quietly and selflessly for the last 34 years with a live band, magic shows, games stalls including a mini train. Apart from gifts to the children they also give gifts that a family can use such as the charsa (bed cover) which was given this year.
The SEC was started by Fatema Ismail in 1960 in a very small way with a few children at the Chunilal Mehta Scout and Guide Hut in Bombay. The SEC has now grown into a big tree with three units of the school in Bombay and a Rural Centre for Independent Living at Kane Phata. The growth and success of the SEC is due to the joint efforts of several ladies both non-Parsi and Parsi. It was under the able guidance and dedicated services of Tehmina Barma that the SEC has grown and in fact the Tehmina Barma Rural Centre for Independent Living is named in her honor.
The tradition of having an annual Christmas party at the SEC was started way back in 1977 by the 13th East Scout Rover Group (St Xavier’s High School) and they continue with it every year to this day. They have regaled the children of the SEC quietly and selflessly for the last 34 years with a live band, magic shows, games stalls including a mini train. Apart from gifts to the children they also give gifts that a family can use such as the charsa (bed cover) which was given this year.
SILLOO D. ZAIWALLA
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