Nine-year-old Lakhan Kale smiles at his new home in Satara, where he lives and receives care with other deaf and mute children.
Disabled Indian boy finds new home —
Nine-year-old Lakhan Kale smiles at his new home in Satara, where he lives and receives care with other deaf and mute children.
Mallika Kapu/CNN
Lakhan and his grandmother Sakubai were taken in by Samata Shikshan Prasarak Mandal (SSPM), an organization that provides care for children like him. They also offered Sakubai a job in a hostel.
New life for Lakhan and his grandmother —
Lakhan and his grandmother Sakubai were taken in by Samata Shikshan Prasarak Mandal (SSPM), an organization that provides care for children like him. They also offered Sakubai a job in a hostel.
Mallika Kapur/CNN
For the first time, Lakhan receives dedicated care. He suffers from cerebral palsy. The school cares for deaf and mute children but he's the first child with a brain disorder to live there.
Disabled Indian boy finds new home —
For the first time, Lakhan receives dedicated care. He suffers from cerebral palsy. The school cares for deaf and mute children but he's the first child with a brain disorder to live there.
Mallika Kapur/CNN
Lakhan plays tag with a classmate in his new home.
Home for deaf and mute children —
Lakhan plays tag with a classmate in his new home.
Mallika Kapur/CNN
Lakhan's new school friends welcome him with a cheer.
'Welcome Lakhan' —
Lakhan's new school friends welcome him with a cheer.
Mallika Kapur/CNN
Lakhan with his new classmates.
Lakhan now attends school —
Lakhan with his new classmates.
Mallika Kapur/CNN
How Lakhan appeared to passersby just weeks ago when Sakubai regularly tied him to a pole to protect him from nearby traffic.
His old life, tied to a pole —
How Lakhan appeared to passersby just weeks ago when Sakubai regularly tied him to a pole to protect him from nearby traffic.
PUNIT PARANJPE/AFP/Getty Images
Sakubai struggled to take care of them both. She worked selling trinkets on the beach. They slept behind the bus stop on a piece of cloth stretched out on the pavement.
Grandmother tried her best —
Sakubai struggled to take care of them both. She worked selling trinkets on the beach. They slept behind the bus stop on a piece of cloth stretched out on the pavement.
PUNIT PARANJPE/AFP/Getty Images