Forty-two-year-old Stuti Wadkar moved out of her parents home last week.Like her, six other mentally challenged women left their aging parents home in Nashik and settled into Gharkul — their own house. And it is probably the happiest thing they have ever done.

From being completely dependent on their parents to learning to live alone, each woman has literally “come of age”. From being shy and nervous young girls they have become the talking point of the colony they live in. Retired couples “drop in” for a chat after their evening walk, curious onlookers peep in when they hear the sound of laughter and neighbours promise to keep an eye.

While the women come together to discover their new surroundings, the unique house has also brought their parents together. Once worried about their daughters’ futures, the couples now rejoice in the new found independence of Gharkul.

“Our only concern in the last few years has been our daughter,” says 75-year-old Smita Wadkar, Stuti’s mother. “Who will take care of her after we are gone? She has a sister who is married and settled. We didn’t want to burden her. This seemed like the best option.”

Unsure of how their daughters would take to the concept, the parents first came together in 2005 and ran a one month camp for the girls. “It was the first time they stayed alone, without their parents,” says Meena Kadkar, the caretaker of Gharkul. “They adjusted beautifully, helping each other, doing odd jobs in the house and enjoying every moment of it.”

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