International Braille Day Celebrated in Anantnag Kashmir on 4th January 2019

Loius Braille's Birthday has been celebrated across the globe as World Braille day. Louis Braille founder of Braille technique of education born in France developed a slate through which educational opportunities for persons with blindness were opened. Braille day was celebrated by Humanity Welfare organisation Helpline NGO in collaboration with District Social Welfare office Anantnag at Zaiba Aapa Institute of Inclusive Education Bijbehara. District administration Anantnag through social welfare department and scores of children with disabilities especially blind children participated in the programme. District social welfare officer Anantnag Dr Farhat was the chief guest on the occasion.

Speaking on the occassion Javed Ahmad Tak chairman Humanity Welfare organisation Helpline NGO gave details about braille day. He said that despite Braille technique was developed 200 years back still in J&K the schools are out of braille books. The state lack braille instructors and the children with blindness are mostly dropped out from schools and those who accept challenges have to part from families to join national institute for visually disabled Dehradun or NAB centre in Delhi. The children with blindness dont get accessible teaching and learning material in government schools and if braille books come to state either they reach months late or the syallabus is changed hence the students with blindness suffer alot, Tak Added. He also said that handful of special educators available have to struggle a lot to impart education among children with disabilities still they get consolidated salary less than half paid to the general line teachers in the state. He impressed that state should regularise services of resourse teachers / special educators with immediate effect so that the children with disabilities are taught well with higher motivational levels. In addition the state education department should start braille press to keep the braille and large print books available for the children with blindness and low vision in all far flung areas. The state needs employ more braille instructors and special educators to cater the educational needs of children with disabilities, otherwise celebrating Braille day is valueless and futile, Tak explained

Feroz Ahmad Bhat gave awareness about the Braille Script and slate. He demonstrated how to start the basic braille learning with alphabets.

Speaking on the occasion zakia Manzoor a blind student of class 11th student of Zaiba Aapa Institute of Inclusive Education Bijbehara presently enrolled in Aligrah Muslim University adopted school said that children with blundness are far behind in J&K and need collective support and empathy from government and society to seek education. But unfortunately we are dealt on charity basis Zakia added.

In hus address Dr Syed Farhat District social welfare officer Anantnag said that social welfare Department is committed to empower persons with blindness. The department will leave no stone unturned to support children with disabilities to seek education and livelihood with dignity. Appreciating role of Humanity welfare organisation Helpline in developing persons with disabilities, Dr farhat congratulated the Founder of organisation for giving quality education to children with bindness who had no option available in south kashmir.

Shree Sanjay gave vote of thanks