A blind eye to security at lone govt-run school for the blind
LUDHIANA: It is Punjab’s only school for the blind, but the lack of attention can well make it seem a forgotten entity. Even in light of the murder of a student in an upscale school in Gurgaon that made national headlines, at this complex — Home and School for Visually Impaired — in Ludhiana, run under the aegis of the state’s department of social security and development of women and children, there is no security guard, and anyone can simply walk into the hostels of boys and girls.
Dilapidated infrastructure and overgrown weeds reflect the disregard too. Established in 1968, Braille Bhavan complex spread over 13 acres houses the school, besides a training centre for teachers, a vocational centre for the blind, and a printing press.
The school is home to 75 students, including 29 girls, aged seven to 16, who attend classes up to Class 10. At the boys’ hostel, stray dogs roam freely. Some boys, who did not want to be identified, said the food is good but “security is not a concern for any of the authorities”.
While buildings of the hostels are crying for maintenance, another is under construction. Work depends on availability of funds. Another building with eight rooms sponsored by Oswal Group of Industries is near completion.
Discarded furniture items and other junk are strewn on the campus, even in the corridors, posing a threat of injury to the visually impaired students.
UPGRADED IN NAME
The school is affiliated to the Punjab School Education Board and was recognised as a senior sec- ondary institute in 2002. Fifteen years later, classes 11 and 12 are yet to be started as the government has failed to recruit teachers for that. The school is being managed by two regular teachers and five volunteers. Sanctioned number of teaching staff is 12.
DEPENDS ON PVT FIRMS
Its financial constraints are eased by industrialists’ philanthropy. The five volunteers working on a stipend of Rs 5,000 a month are paid by Oswal Group.
But the commitment ends with September. Paramjit Kaur, the principal, said she could not comment on the issues, and that teachers are recruited by the government.
Kavneet Kaur, superintendent of the hostel, said, “Outsiders do come for work” as construction is on. The hostel superintendent, however, added, “Security is not an issue; students are safe.”