Turn visually impaired people into human resources
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- Date: Sun, 21 Oct 2007 20:17:12 -0400
The Daily Star, Bangladesh
Sunday, October 21, 2007
Turn visually impaired people into human resources
By Staff Correspondent
Speakers say at discussion
Caption: Visually impaired people attend a discussion at the Directorate of
Social Services auditorium in the city yesterday marking the World White Cane
Safety Day. Photo: STAR
Speakers at a discussion yesterday reiterated the need for building awareness
about the use of white cane by visually impaired people to ensure their safe
movement.
They also called for adequate supply of necessary equipments for blind people
to help turn them into manpower.
The discussion was organised jointly by the Ministry of Social Welfare,
National Foundation for the Development of Disabled Persons and National Forum
of Organisations Working with the Disabled (NFOWD) at the auditorium of the
Directorate of Social Services marking the World White Cane Safety Day.
In his welcome address, AHM Noman Khan, general secretary of NFOWD, said the
celebration of the Day across the world symbolises a common platform for people
with all forms of disabilities along with visually impaired to raise voice for
their rights.
He urged all to extend their helping hands in ensuring adequate supply of
equipments like braille books, special educational institutes, white canes and
reservation of seats in public vehicles.
He congratulated the young people with disabilities who earned laurels through
their outstanding performances at the special Olympic held in China recently.
In his keynote paper, Monsur Ahmed Chowdhury, NFOWD chairman of Policy and
Legal Affairs Committee, explained the background of the Day.
He said leaders of the International Federation of the Blind organised an
international conference for the first time in 1969 in Colombo, Sri Lanka where
different proposals were adopted regarding social development, education,
training, and safe movement of the blind people.
One of the proposals was to observe the World White Cane Safety Day every year
on October 15 to promote awareness about the basic needs of people with visual
impairment, he added.
The Ministry of Social Welfare has been observing the Day since 1996 in
association with the NFOWD.
Hafizul Islam Mia, director general of social services directorate, laid
emphasis on raising awareness about the use of white cane.
He also called for comprehensive approach for the overall development of people
with disability.
Social Welfare Secretary MA Hai Howlader, Bangladesh Blind Mission Visual
Trainer-cum-Braille-in-charge Fahima Khatun and NFOWD Assistant General
Secretary M Khalilur Rahman also took part in the discussion presided over by
NFOWD President Khandaker Zahurul Alam.
A total of 200 white canes were handed over to 12 member organisations of the
Directorate of Social Services, University of Dhaka and NFOWD for distributing
among the blind students and persons on the occasion.
On account of Eid-ul-Fitr vacation, the World White Cane Safety Day was not
observed on the due date.
http://www.thedailystar.net/story.php?nid=8225
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