FIRST-OF-ITS-KIND SPORTS FACILITY PROVING BOON FOR VISUALLY IMPAIRED STUDENTS

STUDENTS OF BLIND SCHOOL IN JAMALPUR AREA USING THIS FACILITY TO STAY FIT
Ludhiana, February 8, 2019: The first of its kind sports facility at Blind School Jamalpur is proving boon for the visually impaired students studying there. Constructed with a cost of around Rs 42 lakh, this sports facility was inaugurated by Cabinet Minister Mr OP Soni on January 25. The Department of Social Security and Development of Women and Children, Punjab, runs this blind school in Jamalpur area of the city.
It is pertinent to mention that for the physical well being of the students of Blind School, here, a sports facility has been constructed. This is the first such sports facility for blind students in the state. Facilities of a gymnasium, activity room, football ground, and a multipurpose ground with facilities for cricket, football, discus throw, shot put, an athletics track, cricket net practice pitch, long jump etc has been developed in the school premises.
Mr Manjinder Singh, Superintendent and Incharge, Government Institute for Blind, Ludhiana, informed that the complex houses Blind School, Braille Press and a Teacher Training Centre for training teachers teaching visually impaired students. He informed that ever since the sports facility has been inaugurated, a large number of students have been availing full benefit of it.
He informed that along with providing good quality education to the visually impaired students, special emphasis is also given for motivating the students to participate in sports activities. He said that one such student named Kapil Dev, who had studied in this school is now an international level cricket player. He said that Kapil Dev had also participated in the T-20 India vs Sri Lanka cricket match that took place in the city last year.
He informed that at present, 64 visually impaired students are studying in the Blind School, here, and all expenses of these students are borne by the Punjab government. He further informed that the recently developed sports facility, here, has been constructed keeping in mind the needs of visually impaired. Mr Manjinder Singh further informed that the gymnasium and activity room is already functional, while the work on the construction of sports grounds is going on in full swing and would be completed shortly.