The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Proposal to set up schools for visually challenged

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Tuesday, Jan 06, 2009
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Proposal to set up schools for visually challenged

Staff Reporter

Bangalore: A proposal to set up government schools for the visually challenged in all districts in the State is being chalked out, said D.S. Ashwath, Secretary, Department of Women and Child Development.

He was speaking at the inauguration of the celebration of the 200th birth anniversary of Louis Braille, here on Sunday. The birth anniversary celebrations had been organised for the first time by the Department for the Welfare of the Disabled and Senior Citizens.

“At present, the State has just four schools for the visually challenged, one each in Bangalore, Bellary, Gulbarga, and Davangere districts. A total of 200 students are in these schools, which require around Rs. 50 lakh annually. We are preparing a proposal to set up one residential school for the visually challenged in each district,” he said.

Mr. Ashwath told The Hindu that each school would have a student strength of 50. “The proposal will be presented to the Government soon so that it can be included in the next Budget.” He also said that according to the Persons with Disabilities Act, there is reservation of three to four per cent in group C and group D government jobs for the differently-abled. About 5,000 posts have been filled in 96 departments so far.

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