World White Cane Day Observed at KU

Srinagar – In order to promote the safety needs of the visually impaired people and celebrate their achievements in various fields of life, Kashmir University’s Department of Students WelfareThursday organized a one day awareness cum open poster competition program to observe the World White Cane Day, World sight Day, at its campus .

Speaking on the theme Disability is only a say, Ability is my way Dean Students Welfare, Prof Neelofar Khan said in her presidential address that this day of recognition is held around the world each year in October to highlight the use of the White Cane in ourcommunity and to promote the safety needs of people who are blind orhave low vision. The day also reminds people about how the white cane is an important tool in helping the blind and the visually impaired live with greater independence, said Prof Neelofar. Expressing her gratitude over the overwhelming response received from the students Prof Neelofar said The huge amount of participation by the students in this cause can play a vital role to make all aware about the inconveniences faced by visually impaired. Prof Neelofar added that the special cell of the DSW KU is trying its utmost effort to remove all the barriers which causes inconveniences to these specially challenged persons while pursuing their studies.

The University has already re-enforced this special cell and many requirements are in pipe line to facilitate and remove the obstacles, said Prof Neelofar. In his address Assistant Dean, DSW Showket Shafi said that it is time when communities across the world re-affirm their commitment to improve access to basic services for blind and visually impaired people.

He said that the special cell of the KU has taken a special task at hand and within a span of over four years since its inception the spectrum of work at the cell has increased manifolds.

Acknowledging that the society has failed at several places while dealing with these specially challenged persons, District Social Welfare Officer, Ananatnag ,Zahoor Ahmad Raina said that there is a need to work collectively at several fronts. Sensitization, assessing quantum of problems, appropriate schemes followed by proper execution and then critical analysis is the need of the hour to address the inconvenience faced by these people, said Raina. Coordinator Special cell DSW KU Shaheel Mohammad in his welcome address said that visually impaired people are facing many problems and need to address. On the occasion Asstt. Dean DSW Showket Shafi presented the vote of thanks. In a separate Interactive session several experts including Dr Manzoor Hussain, Assistant Prof, Department of Sociology, Dr. Aamina, Department of Education and District Social Welfare Officer, Anantnag shared their expertise and elucidated the students and specially challenged people about the world wide scenario of physically challenged persons. During the interaction they highlighted problems faced by these impaired persons, and revealed various schemes for them undertaken by the government at various levels .Prize money was given to the best poster presenters in two different categories. Professional & non-professional (school and Special Challenged Students; colleges and university students separately