CHENNAI: Nethrodaya, an organisation that works for the disabled, held its eighth Visually Impaired Achievers Awards function on their premises, on Sunday. This year, 56 visually challenged school children from all over Tamil Nadu, who passed classes 10 and 12 with over 90 per cent marks, were awarded with certificates, medals and a prize money of Rs 5,000.
G Viswanathan, founder chancellor of VIT University, presided over the occasion. He stressed the need to recognise children with special needs and award them for their achievements. “Today, what is missing is value-based education. If a special child wants to do something, say in a company, he or she is chided away citing disability as a reason. Special children are not even given a chance to prove themselves. This has to stop,” he said.
Justice V Ramasubramanian of the Madras High Court spoke about a visually impaired law student. “He used to travel 20 kilometres everyday and come to college. He did exceptionally well in academics and put the rest to shame. He is now working in a reputed law firm. “What I’m trying to say is, all of us are equal. All we need is an opportunity to showcase our talent. I hope that this situation improves with time,” he added. His speech received a thunderous applause from the students in the hall.
“The celebration is aimed to create awareness among people. They (special children) don’t need sympathy but a guidance and platform to showcase their talent,” added C Govindakrishnan, founder of Nethrodaya.
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