Bhadrak: The differently-abled inmates of Binapani Hellen Keller Special School for the Blind, Deaf and Dumb Girls at Charampa in this district have become true believers of the saying, “A strong fish swims against the current. A dead one goes with the flow.”
There are 89 differently-abled girls studying from Class I to Class X in this institution. Apart from education, they are also being provided with vocational training to make them self-reliant.
During leisure, they are being trained to make incense sticks, phenyl and sanitary napkins.
“The girls are keen on getting trained in vocational courses. Some are doing well in tailoring and beautician job,” says Tilotama Majhi, the manager of the school.
They have become so skilled over the years that they are being felicitated at the block and district level ‘Indradhanu programmes,” she says, adding that she is sure the children will never ever get disappointed in securing employment.
This correspondent interacted with the inmates, and was overwhelmed to see them brimming with self-confidence.
“The education and the training we are receiving will go a long way in making us stronger, helping us overcoming the stigma of being differently-abled,” the inmates said.
This correspondent came across Dolly Raj, a Class X student. She is from Kathagohal village in Mayurbhanj district. Her father is a small time farmer. She got admitted to the school two years back. She is one of the brilliant students in the institution, and is equally good at painting and has won many awards.
Like Dolly, Aradhana, daughter of Alok Kumar Satpathy, a government employee of Upadeipur village in Mayurbhanj district, is also skilled in painting. A winner of many block and district level awards, Aradhana, a Class VI student, wants to become an artist.
Anita Das, daughter of Rajendra Das, a farmer of Tiakhia village in Balasore district, is a Class IX student. She wants to be self-reliant after education.
PNN
