TEAM HERALD
PANJIM: Hundred visually impaired school children and their teachers from Maharashtra will visit the State for a three day excursion this weekend.
They are expected to visit the Goa Science Centre Miramar on October 26, do a boat cruise, participate in events and special competitions.
Occupational therapist Pam Gandekar’s book ‘Special Children: Playing to Learn’ which focuses on the problems of bringing up newborn physically challenged children will be released on October 27 at Sanskruti Bhavan, Patto by academician, poet and co-founder National Organization of the Blind, P A Mahajan as part of their itinerary.
Dr Ramesh Sathe founder of Vijaya Memorial Trust will gift library enhancing equipment designed by him to the Central Library. He will also give a presentation about the relevance of the devices. “These instruments are not solely for the children. Even the elderly with vision problems and those with partial vision are welcome to use these,” C M Samant, one of the organizers said.
A very important part of the programme will be an open forum conducted by Shirish Darvekar technical director of Saksham and chaired by Yogesh Desai, CEO of Helen Keller Institute of Deaf and Deafblind.
Darvekar is instrumental in designing audio instruments to assist the visually impaired while Dessai has published the world’s first 18 volumes of Braille version of Guru Granth Sahib.
The children will present a special cultural program ‘Drushti-Srushti’ at Institute Menezes Braganza and Marathi poet Prabha Ganorkar will release a special issue of the magazine ‘Antarvedh’ concerning the blind. There will also be a poetry recital by the guest of honour Vasant Aabaji Dahake.
The children will be arriving by train from Mai Bal Bhavan in Pune, Sneha Jyoti in Mandangad, Dyan Prabodhini in Kolhapur and Dr Narendra Bhivapur Blind School in Amravati and will be staying at the Youth Hostel, Miramar.
“Let’s not forget that they dream and dance like us. They too want to enjoy the breeze, ride on the waves and smell the fragrance of Goa. We have to change our outlook towards them. I’m proud of my country India but am often ashamed of the people because we’re not bothered about them and we feel nothing can be done to change their situation,” Advocate Satish Sonak said while addressing a press conference.
The programmes organised by Anam Prem focus on empowering the downtrodden in society. Last year Anam Prem organised a three day excursion for 50 transgenders.
