Every parent wants their child to be self-reliant. Institutions like Saanidhya give support and hope to parents of special children, said Deputy Commissioner M Maheshwar Rao.

Speaking after inaugurating Vision 2008, the two-day art and craft exhibition of items made by students of Saanidhya Residential School and Saanidhya Samarth Centre, jointly organised by Shree Ganesha Seva Trust and State Bank of India at Kadri Park on Saturday, he said more such institutions must come up in DK district and thus become a model for other districts.

State Bank of India (Mangalore) AGM C S Tallur, announcing a new scheme of the bank for children ‘Taare Zameen Par’ said the exhibition proves that specially abled children have learnt to live amidst normal people. He assured the co-operation of SBI in all its future endeavours.

George Verghese of MRG Group, Bangalore, said Saanidhya has converted mentally retarded children into differently abled children. These special children can do what even some normal children cannot do, he said adding that kindness is the language they understand and love is what they need.

Shree Ganesha Seva Trust Honorary Secretary Vasanth Kumar Shetty said the Trust has entered the fifth year and a new building for Saanidhya costing Rs 2.5 crore is under construction. Dharmasthala Dharmadhikari Veerendra Heggade, MP Janardhan Poojary and Union Minister Oscar Fernandes among others have donated for the building already, he informed. Vision 2008 is not being organised for any commercial purpose, but to show that the special children are as capable as others, he added.

Saanidhya website www.saanidhya.org, prepared by NITK students under the stewardship of Mr Tallur was inaugurated on the occasion. A brochure on Spandana 2008, a fund-raising programme was also released.

At the exhibition, craft items, greeting cards and paintings meticulously prepared by the students of Saanidhya were on display. Trust president Mahabala Marla was present.