A far-sighted Pongal fete for the differently abled

Organised by Vidya Sagar in association with the Special Child Assistance Network (SCAN) and V-Excel Educational Trust, RA Puram, the event saw nearly 60 children taking part in the festivities.

“As many of them do not stay with their parents or are separated from them, this is a rare chance for them to meet each other and celebrate. The event was inclusive, and so many were comfortable in coming for the event,” said Ummul Khair, advocate and organising member of the event.

With Pongal and vada prepared by the volunteers, the afternoon was filled with activities, poetry readings, and music. However, the occasion was also an opportunity to drive home the point of ‘enabled decision-making’. Parents who came with their children were kept away from their children, who were left in the hands of volunteers from the Bhumi Foundation.

“Many parents were worried. By assigning the right volunteers we were able to alleviate their fears. We picked the volunteers based on their proximity to the differently-abled person, so that this bonding could be extended to future needs. For example, if the child wants to go for a walk or if parents need assistance a neighbourhood volunteer could be of help,” said Gopinath Ramakrishnan, trustee with SCAN.