Self-help groups formed to help special students become independent

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, July 14

City-based Pehal Government Resource Centre is initiating steps to help special students become self-dependent through self-help groups consisting of their parents. At present, the centre has 127 students and 57 of them are getting vocational training. These self-groups, which started six months ago, have been designed for students to learn a vocational trade.

A standard group consists of five students, along with their parents, supervised by a teacher and it learns trade technicalities.

Dharminder Singh Gill, coordinator of the resource centre, said, “Most of these students suffer from intellectual disabilities. They have opted for a vocational trade. The aim is that the parents should also be acquainted with the method of creating a product belonging to the child’s vocation. This will help parents understand the work of the child as well as establish a better relationship with them.”

It is for the first time that the centre has introduced a self-help group for special students. It will also assist parents in finding a suitable job for the children. The first batch of the self-help group will complete its course in the next six months.