Deaf and dumb school in need of basic facilities

Ravi Chandel

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, April 4

Students at Mahanta Gurbanta Dass School for Deaf, Dumb and Blind may have special needs, but they are carving a niche for themselves in the employment sector.

The school, however, lacks some basic facilities for the students. Facilities such as a dispensary for medical-aid, smart classes and school van for the convenience of the students are still absent for special children.

The school authorities have been corresponding with the Red Cross Society (RCS) authorities to provide facilities, but in vain. After the private schools, government schools have also begun to offer the smart class facility to their students.

This special school, however, may have to wait for the facility. In the absence of the dispensary on the premises, the school authorities have to make haste in case a student falls ill. The only vehicle given to the school, a mini-bus, is in a deplorable condition.

Maninder Kaur, principal of the school, confirmed that the school authorities had written to the RCS authorities to provide smart class infrastructure and a school bus for students.

She said the school authorities had even contacted the Civil Surgeon to set up a dispensary on the premises of the school, but till date their demand had not been met.

The DC said, “The only teething trouble in starting the smart classes at the school is that the teachers are not trained in this regard. As for providing a school van, it may take some time as there are no immediate plans to do so.”