NMC lends helping hand to disabled

March 4th, 2008 | posted by Anjali

NAGPUR: Krishna Kumbre's eyes shine with the mere

anticipation of getting to play with his friends in the field.

This will be first time that Krishna will be able

to do so in 10-years, thanks to the efforts of Nagpur Municipal Corporation's education department to provide him with a

pair of calliper shoes free-of-cost.

The NMC recently donated callipers to 27 children, who were born

handicapped, the additional municipal commissioner Atul Patne told TOI.

The education department distributed

permanent disabled certificates and spectacles to the handicapped students under the ambitious Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan scheme

of the Central Government at a small function held at Yeshwant Stadium, on Wednesday.

The education department

also distributed permanent disabled certificates to 122 children. Besides, it also distributed spectacles to 72

children.

The callipers came as a big relief to Krishna's mother Rukma. "Krishna's legs are infected with the

polio virus since birth. We could not provide him with crutches since we belong to a very poor family," she

said.

An enthusiastic Krishna, a student of class three in Maharani Laksmibai primary school said after getting

the calliper shoes he would not only participate in athletics, but also play cricket (his favourite game) with his

friends.

Another beneficiary is Liladhar Moudekar. He lost his vision while bursting crackers during Diwali in

2006. His eyes could have been saved had he received instant treatment, said Vithoba, his father. "However, since we were

short of money, he was deprived of the treatment. Recently, officials from NMC approached me through the corporation school

and gave him a pair of spectacles."

Julie John, mother of a disabled girl got the permanent disabled certificate

for her.

Meanwhile, the NMC has admitted 45 permanent disabled children in its schools in the city and people

who would bring them to schools would get Rs 100 per month as a honourarium. In the second phase, the corporation would also

provide commode to permanent disabled kids, informed additional municipal commissioner Atul Patne.

Source:

Vidarbha