“Hats off to the teachers and parents of these wonderful kids who have put in relentless effort in carving the life of these children”, said visually ecstatic Pawan Kumar Bansal, Union Raliways Minsiter, after watching the colourful cultural programme presented by the special children at Vatika High School for Deaf & Dumb children, Sector 19-B, Chandigarh, here today. He was here to take part in the function of this school as the Chief Guest, which was organized to launch of the official website and release of the souvenir. “One must see it to believe it. Dancing and performing Bhangra to the music tunes and beat which they can not hear, is really amazing” said Mr Bansal. He said that although the nature has deprived these children from some basic qualities of listening and hearing but at the same time they have been blessed with some subtle extraordinary skills, that we don’t possesses.
He announced a monetary help of Rs. 6 lakh for this school from his MP LAD fund.While welcoming the Chief Guest Mrs. Vandana R. Singh, President of the ‘Punjab IAS Officers’ Wives’ Association’ (PIOWA) ,in her key note address threw light on the history and future prospects of the school. She said that Vatika High School for Deaf & Dumb children, Sector 19-B, Chandigarh is a venture of PIOWA. This Association is a registered body and having own defined constitution and by-laws. It is a voluntary welfare Organization which undertakes charitable and philanthropic work on voluntary basis for the welfare of women & children specially for the hearing impaired children. Mrs Singh further said that the Association started the Vatika School for Deaf & Dumb children at Karuna Sadan, Sector 11-B, Chandigarh in the year 1991-92. She said that all the facilities have been provided to the disabled children in the School at par with a public School. Besides education the School provides training vocational in the field of Home Science, Physical Education, Drawing & Painting, Computer, Typing, Beauty parlour, Cutting & tailoring, Caning, Photostat & lamination, making of Greeting Cards, block printing and Paper making so that they come earn after the education in order to live with honour in society. Mrs. Neelam Dutta, Principal of the School delivered vote of thanks. She said that the education is being imparted to the disabled children through the qualified teachers. The School is running classes from Class 1st to 10th and the School has been affiliated with Punjab School Education Board, Mohali, upto Secondary from the academic year 2004-2005. The present strength of the School is 120. She said that this year 15 students appeared for 10th exams result are awaited. Till last year result was 100%.