TEAM HERALD
If you enjoyed reading this article, you can help support our journalism by adding OHeraldo as a preferred source.
PONDA: Lokvishwas Pratishthan Chairman Anup Priolkar has urged the government to make budgetary provision to help the trusts which run schools for the differently abled children.
The Lokvishwas Pratishthan, established in 1981, presently runs separate schools for the mentally challenged, hearing impaired and visually impaired in its main complex at Dhavli-Ponda. Lokvishwas Pratishthan in the last three years has also started three schools at Valpoi, Canacona and Quepem for the differently abled children. About 225 students are enrolled at Dhavli, 37 at Canacona, and Valpoi has 34 and Quepem 44.
“There are some schemes for the schools for the differently abled, but there is a need to have budgetary provision,” said Priolkar on the sidelines of press briefing to announce construction of a new school building at Quepem.
Except for main campus at Dhavli, the other three schools are housed in rented premises. Lokvishwas Pratishthan now plans to construct its own building for the school at Quepem.
“We have planned to build school building and the foundation stone will be laid on May 11. The building will be disabled-friendly with a capacity to house 100 daycare students besides regular class rooms, facilities for sports and recreating, physiotherapy, dance/drama, speech therapy, vocational training,” said Priolkar.
“We appreciate government for its support to the educational institutes meant for the differently abled children. There are number of trusts which run schools for the differently abled children in the State. Government has schemes under Social Welfare and Educational Department, but there is a need to make a budgetary provision,” he said.
“We provide free services to the differently abled and our organization functions on donations from well wishers,” he added.
