17 April 2010
Pune, India
Three visually challenged students have come together to start a training institute for the visually/physically challenged students.
Courses in Braille music and computers, awareness programmes on the needs of the visually impaired and the physically handicapped, and a helpline will be some of the activities at the Louis Braille Apang Kalyan Sanstha to be set up by Nutan Holkar, Dnyaneshwar Kendre and Arjun Kendre, all hailing from rural Maharashtra.
“We want to provide vocational courses to these students so that they can work in fields like computers, call centres and music, among other things. We want to give learning opportunities to students, especially from the rural areas, as they do not get good educational facilities there,” said Nutan, an MA student who is specialising in music.
The three students have also been taking guidance to set up the institute from ENT specialist Milind Bhoi, musical instruments maker Yusufbhai Mirajkar and vocalist Sheela Joshi.
“We are communicating with experts and fine–tuning the syllabi specific to the needs of the students who will be studying at the institute. Later, we will prepare a project report and approach the University of Pune and other deemed universities to get our syllabi approved and affiliated,” Bhoi said.
Arjun, an Std XII student, said the syllabus for the visually challenged will comprise user–friendly software that will enable them download audio files.
“We want to create a library of Braille books and audio books. We are looking for help and assistance from citizens and experts. We don’t want their sympathy, but just an understanding attitude towards us,” he said.
The courses are expected to begin in June. The helpline will also be launched around the same time.
“We are also looking for volunteers who can be a part of this helpline and provide counselling,” Bhoi said.
The students also want to provide accommodation to the visually challenged students studying in the city. “Most often, these students do not get opportunities to continue their education in rural areas. Also, if they come from financially weak background, they can’t even get admission easily into a government hostel in the urban areas. So, we plan to build a hostel for them,” said Arjun’s brother, Dnyaneshwar, also an Std XII student.
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