Mangalore: Serving special children is serving God; Parish Priest Rev Fr Walter D’Souza

Mangalore:  Saanidhya Utsava enthrals differently abled children.

God created special children to provide us with an opportunity to serve him, through the service of specially abled, opined Mary Mother of God Church (Shaktinagar) Parish Priest Rev Fr Walter D’Souza. He was speaking after inaugurating Saanidhya Utsava, a cultural evening by the students of Saanidhya Special School organised in Kadri Park on Sunday.

Special children have special talents unlike other children and they need to be explored. If, provided with equal opportunities, they can exhibit their talents and providing stage to them, others should make them feel that they are special, Fr Walter said.

Dakshina Kannada district Working Journalists’ Association President P B Harish Rai requested the representatives to provide aids to special school and teachers of special children. The candidates who are contesting in the coming elections should include in their manifesto, the point to provide all basic amenities to the special schools and implement it accordingly, he requested.

He applauded the dedication of special teachers, who strive for the betterment of these children.

Rotarian Krishna Shetty felt that special teachers should be given National Awards and he gave a call top people to accept special children as other children and try to bring them to the forefront.

Sportsperson and national award winner Anjana Devi and Para Olympic Athlete Madhushree were felicitated on the occasion. Anjana Devi replying to the felicitation told that parents of special children should encourage their children keeping aside their disability because, nothing is a barrier to an achievement. She owed her achievements to her parents and well wishers who encouraged her a lot.

Mangalore Press Club President Ramakrishna R also spoke.

A Mathematics handbook for special children, written by Vasanth Kumar Shetty and published by Thallur family was released on the occasion.

Special students presented cultural programmes featuring Yakshgana Bayalata ‘Guru Dakshine’, dances and ‘Mathsara’ Kannada drama.