Cupcakes baked by persons with autism are being sold in shops in Jamdoba village, West Burdwan, about 150km from the city.
This marks a step towards independent and dignified living for those with autism. This was the purpose behind starting a residential facility for persons with autism by a Kolkata couple joined by other parents.
The individuals making the cupcakes are residents of Ananda Ashrama. They have been learning to bake for about a year now.
The cupcakes were initially distributed in the ashrama but are now being supplied to tea shops in the area or to grocers to understand the market demand.
“We have started with supplying the cakes to the local shops and also some by the highway on the Kolkata-Panagarh route. Long-distance travellers stop by these shops for tea and snacks. We understood that there is more acceptability of smaller cakes than bigger ones,” said Arunasis Adhikari, founder and managing trustee, Bhabna Trust, which runs Ananda Ashrama.
The residential facility started in 2023 to prepare individuals with autism for independent living and train them in vocational skills.
Adhikari, his wife and other parents conceptualised the facility to allay their concerns about what will happen to their children after them.
“Often persons with autism or those with any disability are seen as liabilities who do not add to the gross domestic product of a country. Our children are not yet financially independent but they are making something being used in the community. This definitely paves the way for a dignified living. It makes them psychologically independent, too,” said Adhikari.
The training of the group from ages 12 to 28 started about a year ago.
It takes time to train them in the skills and get them used to it, an ashrama official said.
Not all of them are well-versed in measurements and have to be taught.
“After knowing the measurements they have to be trained in how to make the cake batter. For some, stirring takes time because their motor skills have been impacted. What people without special needs take for granted has to be taught to those with special needs,” said an official of the bakery unit.
After getting market feedback about the cupcakes, the ashrama intends to increase the produce and supply to more stores and people, said Adhikari.
