Pingalwara spreads education for deaf

Divya Sharma

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, November 17

The All-India Pingalwara Charitable Society has extended education to the deaf in various parts of the region.

The society has opened four schools to promote the cause in Sarhali, Patti, Attari, and Katora village in Ferozepur district.

The authorities in Amritsar are already imparting education to about 160 special students at their Pingalwara complex based in Manawala.

The unique feature of the classes is that the sign language is being taught in Punjabi for the comfort of parents as well as the students.

One of the officials at Pingalwara said, “There is a certain familiarisation with the mother tongue. Most of the people can understand it well. So, the sign language in Punjabi is being taught to all students. Parents are also comfortable while communicating in it.”

These classes are free of cost and are only for day scholars. The authorities are also holding special interactive sessions for parents in order to make them understand the sign language being taught to their wards.

Col (retd) Darshan Singh Bawa, administrator of the Pingalwara, said, “It is sorry state of affairs that the government is least concerned about the education of these special children, especially the deaf. There are no proper facilities. The aim of having such schools in various parts is to ensure that quality education is being provided to them. We have trained hands taking care of the people.”

As per their expansion plan, the society opened schools in Sarhali, Patti and Attari this year while the school located at Katora was opened last year.

The Pingalwara management is also firm on imparting training to young girls to be trained as special educators.

The institute will offer diploma in special education and diploma in educating hearing impaired.

Both these courses will be affiliated to the Rehabilitation Council of India (RCI).