BHUBANESWAR: Those who are blessed with sight must lend a helping hand to the visually impaired in order to provide/promote a safe environment for them. With this aim, on the occasion of International White Cane Safety Day, the Orissa Association for the Blind and the Bichhanda Welfare Trust, in association with the Institute of Social Work and Research (ISWAR), organized an awareness rally in the city Sunday.
The Orissa Association for the Blind took out the rally from the association’s premises and it passed through Ram Mandir, Master Canteen, and wended its way back to the association premises. Over 300 blind people took part in the rally.
Talking to Orissa Post, general secretary of the association Bihari Nayak said, “Visually impaired persons require special attention from the society. Therefore, city residents must stretch their hands to help these persons, like helping them in crossing the road.”
Nayak also urged the state government to install auditory signals at major traffic posts so that blind persons can know that the road is clear for them to cross over. “Blind persons find it difficult to cross the road as they can’t see. In such satiations, audio signals will help them.”
State minister of Women & Child Development Prafulla Samal, city mayor Ananta Narayan Jena, MLA Bijay Kumar Mohanty, state commissioner for persons with disabilities Minati Behera and others were present.
On other hand, the Bichhanda Welfare Trust held a rally from the Mohabodhi Society, Unit-9. State minister Prafulla Samal flagged off the White Cane Safety Day march. Above 200 visually impaired persons participated.
Chairman of the Bichhanda Welfare Trust, Prakash Kumar Mohapatra, spoke on the requirements for the visually impaired in respect of their education, employment and rehabilitation.
Mohapatra said, “Visually impaired person should get the maximum of opportunities from the state government. City buses must have a system to send out audio signals that enable disabled people know their bus has come.”
Also, the Social Security and Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities Department conducted a programme at which around 300 blind persons received white canes and cap this day.
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