New school building for visually challenged inaugurated

Minister for Woman and Child Development Shashikala Jolle has said that steps had already been taken to fill up the vacant posts in the department and already the process for appointment of 52 posts of CDPO and 265 posts of supervisors had been completed.

Inaugurating the new building of the Government School for the Visually Challenged built at a cost of ₹2.82 crore at Medar plot in Anandnagar of Hubballi on Saturday, the Minister said that a new touch would be given to the department through technology adaptation.

Sharing her own experience as the mother of a differently-abled child, she said she was fortunate to have received the opportunity to inaugurate the school for visually-challenged in her first programme as a Minister. Ms. Jolle also expressed her happiness over getting the opportunity to serve as Minister for Woman and Child Development, saying she could serve as the mother of lakhs of differently-abled children.

Ms. Shashikala said that after having assumed office, she had taken steps to address the issue of staff shortage in the department and already the process of promotions and grade changes had been initiated. “We have taken steps to release pending salaries and pension to the staff of department who are taking care of the differently abled,” she said.

The Minister said that suggestions would be sought through social media to give a new look to the department and also to change its working style.

Ms. Shashikala emphasised upon the need for giving differently-abled children opportunities. “Differently-abled children don’t need our sympathy. All they want is opportunity. Our providing them opportunities should boost their confidence”, the Minister said.

She also promised all necessary help for the development of the government school which was established in 1955.

Reservation percentage

Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, Mines and Coal Pralhad Joshi said that the Union government had increased the reservation percentage for the differently abled from 3% to 4% through an amendment. The Centre was committed to the welfare of the around six crore differently-abled persons in the country, he said.

Mr. Joshi said that the despite their physical differences, differently-abled children had the ability and confidence to indulge in challenging activities to reach their goals.

Presiding over the function, Aravind Bellad, MLA, said that it was wrong to consider differently-abled children as a burden on society. “They have the abilities to become good human resources. The government, society and organisations should become their backbones,” he said.

Director of Department of Welfare of Differently Abled Persons K. Leelavathi, Jaya Vibhava Swami and various officials were present.

Centre of attraction

The ‘Mallakambh’ demonstration by the visually-challenged children of the school was the centre of attraction at the inaugural ceremony. Twelve children of the residential school guided by the president of ‘Jnana Sindhu’ organisation Shivanand Kelur and Tulasamma Kelur demonstrated their skills on the ‘Mallakambh’. The children of Priyadarshini School for Hearing Impaired enthralled the audience with a dance performance.