For a child who has never heard their mother’s voice, never listened to music, never caught the cheers in a cricket stadium, silence becomes more than the absence of sound — it becomes a world apart. For thousands of hearing-impaired children in and around Bhilai, Chhattisgarh, that silence was heard — and answered — by two visionaries who turned compassion into action.
In 1974, when PDG Dr. G. C. Jain and Shri B. R. Jain, an eminent industrialist and philanthropist, opened the doors of a small school in Bhilai with just four children, they planted a seed that took root and blossomed into something extraordinary. Today, Prayas Shravan Viklang Sansthan — blessed by St. Mother Teresa as the “Temple of Service” — stands as a living symbol of what vision and compassion can build.
A flagship project of the Bhilai Lions Club, District 3233C, this comprehensive rehabilitation centre is managed by the Lions Charitable Trust. Spread over two acres in Supela, Bhilai, the institution serves hearing-impaired students from Classes I to XII, but its work reaches far beyond academics. The centre offers vocational training in tailoring, embroidery, commercial art, computer literacy and job-oriented skills. The campus also houses a Hearing and Speech Therapy Centre, a Physiotherapy Centre, a well-stocked library and a playground.
Separate hostels for boys and girls provide safe, supportive spaces where young people find community and confidence. From audiological evaluations in soundproof rooms to auditory verbal therapy for children with cochlear implants, from physiotherapy labs to comprehensive speech therapy programs, Prayas addresses every dimension of rehabilitation with professional care.
The impact of Prayas Shravan Viklang Sansthan reaches beyond its classrooms. The Teachers Training Institute, established in 1999, offers specialized diploma programs recognized by the Rehabilitation Council of India, creating a ripple effect by preparing educators who carry this mission forward across the country.
Children here don’t just learn to navigate a hearing world—they thrive in it. They dance, perform drama, play cricket, and take part in activities that affirm their confidence and joy. What began with four children has grown into a place where silence gives way to possibility, and every student finds their own voice, in their own way.