JOIN USSpecial children's day out in City
A little giant-wheel, slides, merry-go-round, kite flying, games, demonstration on fire, a small exhibition, cultural programmes... But there was a difference. The kids who participated in this fair were all special.
About 600 students of special schools and their parents and teachers of Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts had come to attend the ‘Vishishtarigagi Vishishta Mela’ organised by Asha Jyothi, a Forum for the Challenged and their parents (A unit of Seva Bharathi) at Canara High School in the City on Sunday.
Speaking to Deccan Herald, Chetana Society for the Disabled Director Dr U V Shenoy said the event is a regular affair with students suffering from disabilities including speech, hearing, sight, physical disabilities etc coming together with their parents under one platform and enjoying themselves in many fun-filled events. It is also a platform to showcase the hidden talents in these children.
Apart from the games, kite flying by students and parents provided a perfect ‘mela ambience.’ A demonstration by the fire service personnel on how they extinguish fire in buildings enthralled the students. The parents were shown how to protect their children when fire mishap occurs.
In the cultural programmes section, the children displayed their talents in singing, dancing and showed that they are no inferior to others. They also displayed their talents in magic show, mimicry, skits and so on.
In the afternoon, children were made to play various games like passing the ball, musical chair, ‘mini Mosaru kudike’ in which participants had to hit a pot hanging from a height, etc.
The parents were also given an opportunity to get their children examined or find solutions to the problems concerning their children at the medical camp held at the venue. Speech and hearing experts, orthopaedics, paediatricians, opthalmologists, physiotherapists and ENT specialists, dentists were at the venue giving guidance to the parents on the health problems of their peers.
Dr Shenoy said: “We also provide information on various government schemes to the parents during the mela. The mela is just an attempt to give a feeling of family.”
The mela also had an exhibition on how to handle the daily activities like brushing, combing, dressing and so on.
Earlier, the inaugural programme of the mela was attended by Mayor Shanker Bhat, District-in-Charge Minister Krishna Palemar, Corporation Bank General Manager B R Bhat and others.