‘Stop labelling disabled kids as victims, they have incredible potential’

Paramjit Kaur, the retired Principal of the Government School for Visually Impaired at Chandigarh Road, served from 1991 to 2025 and retired on January 31, 2025. Throughout her tenure, she gained extensive experience working with society, parents, and visually impaired students.

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“I received a lot of cooperation during my tenure at the school from everyone, but one thing I want to share with all is this: stop labelling disabled children as ‘bechara’ or ‘victims.’ They are not. They have a sense that other ‘normal’ people don’t have. They are creative, they are talented. Society needs to change its mindset – we are still living in the stereotype era,” said Paramjit Kaur, who herself is visually impaired.

She shared further, “We used to get many Samaritans who wanted to donate something for these children, most of whom came from meagre backgrounds. They would donate clothes, food, or arrange meals for them in the form of ‘daan.’ I never refused, but I asked them to sit with us and have the meal too, along with all the children.

They would observe everything themselves. Slowly, the perception started changing for the better. Society began to realise that these children were normal, minus one sense.

Though they could not see the world, they could feel it very well. Over time, the conventional thought process of society changed.” In her message to society regarding children with special needs, Paramjit Kaur emphasised that times have changed. “In the past, things were different, but now, don’t see the visually impaired child as a ‘victim.’

Give them love, respect, and boost their morale. Watch them excel in paramedical games or see how wonderfully they sing. They aren’t distracted by social media, so their minds remain pure – there is no negativity or violence. These children have incredible potential to prove their mettle.”