JOIN USVisually impaired 'falling into trouble' in front of their school
This is just one of the many woes that confront the 47 blind children studying in the School for Blind. A pelican light was installed in front of the School for Blind on New Sayyaji Rao Road. A button to turn the signal red so that the vehicular traffic stops, was also provided. However, it is of no use as the pelican light itself is not functioning.
When Deccan Herald enquired with a police official near the location, he said that earlier, the vehicles would rarely stop even if the signal light turned red. But now the pelican light, it turns out, has a mechanical defect and hence is rendered useless. While crossing the road would give the inmates of the school a tough time, staying on the same part of the road is also not going to keep them from ‘falling’ into trouble. Reason: The open storm water drains around the school.
No slabs have been placed by the MCC authorities to cover the drains, even with a sense of responsibility or empathy.
State Convenor of Rajya Angavikalara Vedike, N Siddaraju said that despite complaining to MCC authorities regularly, no action has been taken.
The footpath around the school has pole ads placed at regular intervals, electric poles and even a water line right in the middle of the footpath. “Many a times the students have crashed into the poles,” says Siddaraju. If you imagined potholes were meant only to be on roads, then you are completely mistaken. The footpath near the School also has ditches of the size of craters, well almost!
Referring to the traffic light, Siddaraju said that a traffic light near the palace has been installed which gives a instruction to pedestrians on when to cross the road.
A similar traffic light should be installed here, he said. Otherwise, he suggested that a subway similar to that on Sayyaji Rao Road be constructed in front of the School for Blind.
He also demanded the shifting of poles from the footpath and instead suggested using underground cables. The footpaths on the road next to the School, which leads towards Farooqia Dental College is also unusable. As the footpaths have not been maintained or cleaned by the corporation authorities. Instead they have been occupied by a mechanic, coconut vendor and cows! When Deccan Herald spoke about the problems being faced by the inmates of the school to councillor Nandakumar, he said that slabs on the open drain will be placed under the ‘Raja Marga’ construction work. But, this he said will take place only after the Dasara festival. So until repair work takes place, the students of the school will remain silent sufferers.
DH News Service