HYDERABAD: “The state government should make provisions for celebrating Hellen Keller’s birthday properly,” said K Nageshwar Rao, editor of Vikalangula Pilupu on Monday.Speaking on the occasion of 132nd birth anniversary celebrations of Hellen Keller organised at the Press Club of Hyderabad, by Helen Keller Institutions for the Disabled and Vikalangula Pilupu, Rao said her statue should be set up and Keller, the first deaf and blind person to complete her BA in English should get recognition just like Louis Braille.BCom students of Helen Keller institutions staged a skit showcasing the life of Helen Keller on the occasion. Later, class X, Intermediate and BCom students who secured good marks, were awarded medals and certificates by the chief guest V Sunitha Laxma Reddy, minister for Women Development, Child and Disabled Welfare.Sunitha Reddy said the government was planning to start separate sections for the physically challenged in three junior colleges. “A proposal to increase the loan subsidy from Rs 3,000 to Rs 30,000 for poor students has been mooted. Also, the incentive for persons marrying a physically challenged person has been increased to Rs 50,000,” said the minister.Umar Khan, founder chairman, Helen Keller Institutions said when he started the special school in 1984, there were no specialised teachers to teach deaf-blind students. “I left my job to undergo a training course in Mumbai, to teach the disabled. Now there are around 25 special schools but finding required number of teachers remains,” added Khan.He requested the minister to look into this matter. “Today, deaf students are doing their BCom and two of them have even gone to Washington DC to pursue their MBA. They are no less than their normal counterparts,” he said.D Venkateshwarlu, in-charge commissioner, Disabled Welfare department was also present.
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