Keekli Reporter, 19th October, 2013, Shimla
“Differently-abled children (and their parents) have dreams, just like you do. We also need friends and love, just like you do. We are more like you than we are different”. Today was yet another special day when an afternoon was spent with differently abled children from the Deaf and Dumb School, Dhalli, under an initiative by Rotary Shimla Mid Town. Rotary Club had organized an enjoyable evening for children during the visit of Governor (Rotary District 3080), Rotarian Rakesh Aggarwal, the First Lady, Anne Neelima Aggarwal, and President, Ram Gopal Sood, Rotary Shimla Mid Town. The others present were Rotarian Dhyanchand, Rotarian IPP Pankaj Dadwal, newest addition to the Rotary family, Suparna, the recently inducted young Rotaracts from RKMV College Preeti, Puja, Priyanka and Naina and Rotaracts from Institute of Hotel Management, Irfan, Mukul and Rishi.
As we stepped into the campus, we could here loud cheers and claps, everyone was busy playing cricket including the young Rotaracts. Cricket is a game loved by all, as was also evident from the fact that in the meeting hall, the television channel too was tuned to the One Day match between India and Australia. By watching the demeanor and the stance of the children, it was quite difficult to say that life was different to them in any form. Their desires and aspirations are in no way dissimilar to any of us.
The visually challenged children presented a sweet and short performance. Khem Raj, 13 years old, class VIII student gave a beautiful display of his skills while playing the harmonium, accompanied by his friends who together sung Khawaja Mere Khawaja. It was followed by another vocal performance by Vikas, 15 years old student of Class VII, while Khem Raj played the harmonium.
Warden Dhirendar Thakur, informed that the Principal of the Visually Impaired section was Kanta Sharma and was assisted by her 5 teachers who taught 30 students. The Principal for the Hearing Impaired section was Vinay Kumari, who led a team of 10 teachers who taught 100 students. He added, “All children here follow the HP Board syllabus and visually impaired children have the option of taking up vocal or instrumental music instead of Mathematics, while the hearing impaired students can opt for Information Technology. Children here also have the option of joining vocational courses, which includes classes in computers and weaving. Children, recently have learnt the art of making beautiful and typical Kullu border shawls”.
Thakur further added that children here are aged from 5 to 22 years and follow a normal routine as they wake up at 6 am and after breakfast at around 8.30 am, they begin with their classes by 10 am up to 1 pm. After a one hour break, classes begin again at 2 pm up to 4 pm. The evening is spent in recreational activities after a tea break.
On this occasion President, Ram Gopal Sood, said “Under our various Club projects we arrange such visit on a regular basis. Today we distributed 30 goggles too all the visually impaired children. Promoting leadership skills and developing professional capabilities while engaging youth in social services, Rotaracts from IHM collected Rs 7500/-, which was used for making brownies and cookies with the assistance of their HOD Bakery, IHM, Rajneesh Thaper, and distributed to all children”.
The entire evening reflected the need for the society to engage with the differently abled on a regular basis. These lesser fortunate children of God do not need pity but need our affection and care and regular interaction. Organisations like Rotary have taken up a very proactive role in ensuring that these children do not feel neglected or left out from the mainstream society.
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