A State-level World Braille Day programme, featuring essay and art competition prize distribution, welfare assistance for the visually impaired and a Braille exhibition, was held under the auspices of the Mother Fiverose Trust on Sunday.
The event was chaired by Social Welfare and Women’s Rights Minister P Geetha Jeevan. District Differently-Abled Welfare Officer K B Brahma Nayagam, Chief Educational Officer R Sangeetha Chinnarani and State Differently-Abled Welfare Board member Meyakandan presided over the function. Visually impaired persons, students and teachers from various districts across Tamil Nadu participated in large numbers.
During the programme, the IBN Al Haytham Braille Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Dr V Sukumaran. Trust trustee Dr Mohammed Nasir, a physiotherapist, delivered a special address on the importance of World Braille Day and the relevance of the Braille exhibition. Another trustee, architect Mohammed Hayas, spoke on the daily challenges, needs and lifestyle concerns of visually impaired persons.
On behalf of the Trust, a representation was submitted to the government seeking the establishment of a school for the visually impaired in Thoothukudi district from the upcoming academic year, as the district currently does not have such an institution. Demands were also raised for better access to education, employment opportunities, self-employment support and free housing schemes for the visually impaired.
The Best School Award was presented to St Joseph School for the Visually Impaired, Madurai. In the student competitions, Parani Sri of Ramakrishna Mission, Coimbatore, won first place, followed by Sivakumar of St Joseph School, Madurai, in second place. Vanitha from the Government School for the Visually Impaired, Tiruchirappalli, secured third place, while Abinesh Kumar from the Government School for the Visually Impaired, Salem, won fourth place.
The programme concluded with a vote of thanks proposed by special teacher Riqana Parveen.
