The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Building for visually challenged under threat

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Monday, May 12, 2008
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Building for visually challenged under threat

Staff Reporter

36-acre plot has now shrunk to 15 acres
Residents letting out sewage into school premises

CHENNAI: A building at Poonamallee, meant for use by visually challenged persons, is now facing an onslaught from the residents as well as government authorities.

The Government Higher Secondary School for the Blind was established in 1930 on 36 acres, which was donated by the British for housing facilities for the war-affected visually impaired. The land was donated to help the disabled form an association, and later an educational institution for the visually challenged came up on the plot.

“It has now shrunk to 15 acres, with government bodies occupying some portions,” says S. Murugesan, president of the All India Louis Braille Association of the Blind.

The residents have allegedly encroached on the space along the southern and the western side of the school; they have built homes and are letting out sewage into the school premises, he claims.

The demolition of a 745-foot-long compound wall for a road widening project has added to the woes of the visually challenged. “We want the government to rebuild the wall. We have people, from children aged four to 70-year-old elders. The government could take up the land on the other side of the road,” he suggests.

Given the historical importance of the place, Mr. Murugesan says, it will be appropriate to build a hostel. It could form part of the celebrations of the bicentenary birth anniversary of Louis Braille on January 4 next. “The government offices could be shifted elsewhere and a research centre for the blind set up.”

Members of the Association, who met the press on Saturday, said their demands include 75-per cent concession in bus travel across the State and recruitment of the visually challenged persons with appropriate qualifications for fitters, lift and telephone operators, Braille instructors, typists/stenographers and weaving masters in schools for the blind.

They want the monthly relief fund increased to Rs.5,000 and a grant of 1,200 square feet of land to every identified card-carrying visually challenged, as they are often denied their share in family property.

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