SHANTINIKETAN is the brainchild of Mr. Janardhan Pannela, who was born and raised in Adilabad Dist., India, and had his Masters Degree in Psychology and M. Phil. in Rehabilitation Psychology in addition to a Bachelors Degree in Special Education and a Diploma in Vocational Training & Employment for the Mental Retardation from NIMH (National Institute of Mentally Handicapped) Hyderabad, India.
For past 19 yrs. Mr. Pannela has been serving as a Special educator and rehabilitation psychologist in the field of rehabilitation for several organizations at national and international levels. Mr. Pannela has been living in USA for the past decade working as a special educator and consultant psychologist.
The pivotal moment in his career was his time in India, before moving to US, when he served as a mandal resource person for Utnoor mandal, Adilabad, Dist., India, where he witnessed numerous children either born with disabilities and/or suffering from major physical or mental challenges in the community that was brutally unaware of the resources and educational opportunities to enrich their lives.
Mr. Pannela was deeply disturbed by the unacceptable reality and became determined to shed light on this matter and bring a positive change in the lives of those unfortunate young hearts and virtually established a home for them by registering for a non-profit organization, SHANTINIKETAN, in 2001. But, his dream didn’t come to a reality until a decade later as he continued his journey by advancing his education all the way through M. Phil. reinforced by the guidance from the leading teachers and mentors in the field of psychology and rehabilitation.
Mr. & Mrs. Pannela stubbornly stayed on track through years and finally, with their clear vision and lasting passion, opened the doors of Shantiniketan Rehabilitation Center for Special Needs Children as the Honorable District Collector and Director of Disabled Welfare inaugurated it on Oct 12th, 2011.
HELPING HANDS ARE BETTER THAN PRAYING LIPS.
ALONE WE CAN DO LITTLE TOGETHER WE CAN DO MORE
“PLEASE SUPPORT THE STUDENTS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS AND MAKE THE DIFFERENCE”