Policies & Issues

Creating a Brighter Future for the Differently Abled

Policies & IssuesSep 20, 2023

Creating a Brighter Future for the Differently Abled

GIA is among the supporters of a new school building for children with special needs.

Sahyog entrance
Palanpur, India—In January this year, Sahyog (meaning “collaborative participation” in Gujarati), a new complex for an institution devoted to vocational and educational training of divyang (differently abled) children, was inaugurated in the presence of a large number of diamantaires from different corners of the globe.  
 
Located in the Indian city of Palanpur, the building houses Mamtamandir run by the Vidyamandir Trust, an institution that provides free education to children with four different types of disabilities—the visually impaired, physically handicapped, hearing impaired and mentally challenged—under one roof.  
 
The complex also includes a newly opened college that grants master’s degrees in special education, the first institution offering this post-graduate degree in the entire state of Gujarat. (The trust has been granting bachelor’s degrees for special educators for a number of years now.)  
 
While the new building, named “A Development Space for Divyangs, an Indo-US partnership,” was made possible with a generous grant from the Gemological Institute of America, the institute itself has been nurtured and built by donations from different diamond industry families, allowing it grow from its humble beginnings in the early 1960s.   
 
Ashish K. Mehta, managing trustee of Vidyamandir Trust, said the idea for Mamtamandir took shape after his father, Kantilal “Kanubhai” Chhotalal, who set up the trust in 1948, attended a lecture in the 1960s given by Padmashri Dr. Rajendra Vyas.  
 
Vyas was then one of the leading members of the National Association for the Blind and founder of the Blind Men’s Association in India.  
 
“Kanubhai was inspired by the thought that even those who are ‘disabled’ have the abilities to contribute to the progress of society if properly nurtured and trained,” Ashish said. 
  
Chhotalal started Mamtamandir in 1963 as a school for the visually impaired and in the decades since, expanded its outreach to include those with other types of disabilities.  
 
Driven by the vision of helping these children integrate as productive members of society, the Vidyamandir Trust became one of the first institutions in India to implement the vision of integrated education, under which differently abled students joined mainstream institutions whenever possible, enriching the learning experience for all participants. 
 
Today, the trust runs more than 20 different projects under Mamtamandir, all related to vocational and skill training. 
 
The new integrated Sahyog complex, spread over 36,000 square feet, aims to take this intervention to a new level.  
 
It complements some of the older facilities that are housed in separate, and now interconnected, buildings on a contiguous plot. At present, Mamtamandir has an intake of more than 400 differently abled students, boys and girls, challenged by a variety of impairments.  
 
The institution also runs separate hostels for boys and girls, providing free boarding and lodging to about 300 of its students. 

 Related stories will be right here … 

Creating an integrated structure to satisfy their varied needs was no easy task, said Nishant Mehta, a Mumbai-based and Columbia University-trained architect whose family is from Palanpur and were associated with the diamond industry.  
 
Nishant led his architectural design firm, Studio NM, in steering the project and described the journey as a deeply fulfilling exercise.  
 
“We did quite a bit of research about principles followed in different types of institutions and studied universal design guidelines and norms. Yet, some of the most valuable inputs actually came from the practical insights provided by experienced teachers and trustees.”  
 
“Sahyog exemplifies our shared vision for a world where help is born out of empathy, not sympathy.” — Sriram Natarajan, GIA India  
 
In fact, Nishant added, the interactions at the local level with these stakeholders were so useful that that they became institutionalized in the form of joint inspections and discussions once every month. 
 
“The final design has the larger public spaces at the street face of the building, and the spaces for learning tucked away in the quieter part of the campus, with larger workshops housed on the ground level and the classroom spaces and the library on the floors above,” he explained.  
 
Stressing that the building is barrier-free and goes beyond standard regulations, Nishant highlighted some of the special features that Studio NM incorporated. 
 
They include the following:  
  • Ceiling heights modulated with double-height spaces and triple-height corridors with bridges, to both achieve visual connectivity through the school and control the echo;
  • A circulation block that spans the length of the façade to protect the main structure from heat;  
  • The use of brick jaalis (meshes), extensively found in the traditional buildings in Palanpur, at a height to allow hot air to be expelled from the corridor and cooler air to enter the lower level; 
  • Skylights to create a choreography of light, allowing visually impaired students with photosensitive skin to orient themselves;   
  • Openings oriented towards the north for the learning spaces, allowing soft, natural north light to permeate and helping to keep the space cool;   
  • Use of the floors as tools for navigation, such as rough and polished Kota stone floors along with tactile flooring used in corridors and classrooms respectively, so the change of texture helps visually impaired students differentiate the spaces;
  • Use of local, low-maintenance plants on campus. Fragrant flowering plants near the entrance activate the olfactory senses and enables identification of entrances by visually impaired students; all chosen plants had rounded leaves to avoid any injuries;
  • A translation of Braille script in Gujarati developed specially for signage in the school; and  
  • Artwork commissioned from local artists. 
Mamtamandir and its latest edifice, Sahyog, form a remarkably poignant example of how the diamond industry in India has been contributing generously to socially significant causes that support long-term development goals.  
 
Sriram Natarajan, managing director of GIA India, said, “We at GIA India are honored to support the Vidyamandir Trust to build Sahyog. It has been a humbling experience to witness the dedication of the trust towards creating a society where differently abled individuals are not just accepted but embraced as equal partners.  
 
“Sahyog exemplifies our shared vision for a world where help is born out of empathy, not sympathy. Together, we are taking strides towards a more inclusive and compassionate future.” 


The Latest

Boucheron Quatre Sand Collection
CollectionsOct 02, 2025
Boucheron Debuts Cuffs Crafted With 3D-Printed Sand

Its “Quantre Sand” capsule was made using a 3D sand printing technique borrowed from the automotive and aeronautics industries.

Stock image of crime scene tape
CrimeOct 02, 2025
$1M in Jewelry Stolen in Northern California Smash and Grab

Four individuals have been charged in the “takeover-style” robbery of Heller Jewelers last month, and additional charges are expected.

Neil Lane and Boucheron bow tie brooch
MajorsOct 02, 2025
Neil Lane Jewelry Exhibition Coming to Toledo Museum of Art

“Radiance and Reverie” will showcase more than 150 jewels from Lane’s personal collection by Tiffany & Co., Cartier, and more.

gia-edu main image.png
Brought to you by
A Brilliant Future Is Here

Online education from GIA experts.

Just Jules opal necklace
TrendsOct 02, 2025
Amanda’s Style File: October’s Colorful Show

The month’s birthstones, tourmaline and opal, complement the palette of autumn.

Weekly QuizOct 02, 2025
This Week’s Quiz
Test your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
Take the Quiz
Peter Smith National Jeweler columnist
ColumnistsOct 01, 2025
Peter Smith: Why Vendor Success Starts With Self-Reflection

Smith shares the importance of looking at your company with openness and honesty to identify opportunities you may be missing.

Plah Black Swan Earrings
EditorsOct 01, 2025
Playing Favorites: The Best Jewelry From Vicenzaoro

Associate Editor Natalie Francisco visited Italy to spot jewelry trends at the September Vicenzaoro show and share her top finds.

reDollar-fine-jewelry-department.jpg
Brought to you by
reDollar.com Is Rolling Out the Next Level Jewelry, Diamond & Watch Consignment Program

With their unmatched services and low fees, reDollar.com is challenging some big names in the online consignment world.

People shopping in a mall
SurveysOct 01, 2025
Consumer Confidence Hits 5-Month Low in September

Respondents were concerned about job availability and rising prices.

Gemfields rough emeralds
SourcingOct 01, 2025
Gemfields’ H1 Revenue Falls 47%

Its latest interim financials revealed a challenging first half due in part to production troubles at its mines.

Pandora executives Alexander Lacik and Berta de Pablos-Barbier
MajorsSep 30, 2025
Pandora CEO to Retire in 2026, Hand Reins to CMO

Alexander Lacik has led Pandora since 2019. Berta de Pablos-Barbier will succeed him, the first woman to head the company.

Gavel near stacks of books
CrimeSep 30, 2025
2 Suspects Charged in $300K Sleight-of-Hand Jewelry Store Scam

Two men allegedly used counterfeit bills to purchase luxury watches and jewelry from a North Carolina jeweler.

Billie Eilish and Finneas O’Connell John Hardy Lovestruck Collection
CollectionsSep 30, 2025
Billie Eilish, Finneas Partner with John Hardy

The “Lovestruck” collection, designed with the Academy and Grammy award-winning siblings, is the brand’s first lab-grown diamond offering.

Spinelli Kilcollin Market Highland Park
IndependentsSep 30, 2025
Spinelli Kilcollin Announces Residency in Dallas

The brand, celebrating its 15th anniversary, has popped up at Market, a luxury fashion destination in Highland Park Village.

Nina Pugliese Henne Jewelers
IndependentsSep 29, 2025
Nina Pugliese, Longtime Henne Jewelers Employee, Dies at 65

She was remembered as a creative and generous woman of faith, who also had a sweet tooth.

Kwait White and Yellow Gold Diamond Earrings
TrendsSep 29, 2025
Amanda’s Style File: Ear Focus

Move over neck mess, the ear story is the way to make a layering statement today.

Mark Henry Leandra Medine Cohen
IndependentsSep 29, 2025
Mark Henry Jewelry to Debut in Canada

The New York-based brand is set to launch a limited-time offering for the holiday season at Holt Renfrew in Toronto.

Overnight volume 7 bridal catalog
MajorsSep 29, 2025
Overnight Releases New Bridal Catalog

The “Volume 7” bridal catalog features best-selling engagement rings, trending styles, and a new section highlighting anniversary bands.

Hand holding holiday shopping bags
SurveysSep 26, 2025
Online Shopping, Influencers to Drive Holiday Spending, Mastercard Says

Holiday sales growth is expected to slow as consumers grapple with inflation and tariff-related uncertainty.

Austin Shines Jewelry Award
Events & AwardsSep 26, 2025
Winners of Austin Jewelry Design Contest Announced

Jamie Turner Designs is among the winners of the local “Austin Shines” contest, hosted by Eliza Page, a jewelry store in Austin, Texas.

Kwit Square Signet Pinky Ring in Red and Azure
TrendsSep 26, 2025
Piece of the Week: Kwit Jewelry’s Square Signet Pinky Ring

The red and azure colorway is one of many fun enamel pairings offered, bringing whimsy to the classic style of a monogramed signet ring.

Entrance to Jwaneng diamond mine in Botswana
SourcingSep 25, 2025
2 African Countries Aim to Take Stake in De Beers

Botswana’s president said his country wants a controlling share, while Angola envisions multiple countries holding minority stakes.

Kira Jewels Growing Rowing Machines
Lab-GrownSep 25, 2025
Kira Jewels Expands Lab-Grown Diamond Production

The manufacturer is adding 1,400 chemical vapor deposition (CVD) reactors to its growing facility in India.

Alex Moss SoHo store
IndependentsSep 25, 2025
Alex Moss’ New Flagship Brings Bold Jewels to SoHo

The jeweler to the stars has worked with Drake, A$AP Rocky, Tyler the Creator, and other celebrities.

Matthew Wilson, Kavin Kulamavalava, and a Elmasolvex VA
WatchesSep 25, 2025
Wilson & Son Jewelers Donates to the Horological Society of New York

The Scarsdale, New York-based jeweler donated a professional-grade watch cleaning machine.

Father’s Day diamond advertisement that ran in India
SourcingSep 24, 2025
De Beers Adopts New Strategies to Drive Natural Diamond Demand in India

De Beers’ refreshed, multipronged approach, which includes generic promotions and retail partnerships, is delivering positive dividends.

Policies & IssuesSep 24, 2025
For Jewelry Manufacturers, Higher Tariffs Create Long-Term Worries

They are trying to balance the need to sustain well-established relationships with the pressure higher tariffs have put on margins.

×

This site uses cookies to give you the best online experience. By continuing to use & browse this site, we assume you agree to our Privacy Policy