Ranga Rao Memorial School for Disabled

Introduction of the organisation and functions.

N R Foundation is the non-profitable trust of the N R Group, Sri N. Ranga Rao, founder of the NR group, strongly believed in giving back to the society, from where it has earned and grown. This belief has now become an ideal of the group and “N R Foundation” is the result

NR Group, headquartered in the cultural town of Mysore, started with an agarbathy producing family business in 1948.Today it is a multicore organization which has made its presence felt across the globe and is a name to reckon with in all the categories they are present in, namely

Incense sticks: N. Ranga Rao and Sons & N. Ranga Rao and Sons Exports.
Electronic Manufacturing services: Rangsons electronic Pvt.Ltd.
Personal, air care &Wellness Products: RIPPLE Fragrances Pvt.Ltd.
Natural floral &herbal extracts: Natural and Essentials Oils Pvt.Ltd
Professional marketing services: Rangasons Marketing services Pvt.Ltd.
Raw material sourcing and trading: Arjati Trading pvt.Ltd.

Education at all levels for the betterment of the society at large is an important aspect of their

philanthropic activity. NR foundation also supports a variety of social causes very passionately.

Here the corporate social responsibility is taken seriously and the group contributes to the

causes on case to case basis. The following are the permanent activities of the foundation-

Ranga Rao Memorial School for Disabled (RMSD)
Project Prerepana
Project Unnati and cycle Scholarship Programme
Vocational Training for Women
Ranga Jnana Vinimaya Kendra (RJVK)
Supporting Art and Cultural Events.

Ranga Rao Memorial School for Disabled (RMSD)

The Ranga Rao Memorial School was started in 1988, initiated by NR foundation which is non-profit charitable trust and also it is a philanthropic activity of NR Group. It is a residential school for visually challenged girls from economically weaker background. The school is recognised by both state and central government. The strength of the school is around 99 students. Among 99 students, some are partially blind and some are totally blind.

This special school has a regular academic curriculum up to class tenth. The girls are taught life skills, music, dance, and basic cooking. Mobility training is also an important part of their education. The aim of this residential school is to groom visually impaired girls to be responsible for themselves and live confidently.

In order to promote these skills among them students, the school organizes Cultural Annual Day to showcase their talents and the school also promotes them to participate in competitions organized by the government and non-government organizations. The major challenge has been convincing the parents to send their children to this school especially in the rural areas.

Project Prerepana

The objective of the project is to promote schooling among the children who are drop outs from regular schools, or children who are unable to cope up with the usual academics with their own age groups because of their low learning ability or other factors. This is done through the

learning centres known as ‘KALIKA KENDRA’ where children are taught and also given special attention to fill gaps in their academics.

To motivate and encourage participation and to develop leadership qualities and confidence in the children, these Kendra’s additionally conduct training campus, trekking trips, and other extra-curricular activities periodically. These programs help the children to sustain the interest in the education and maintain regularity.

Project Unnati

NR group believes that education is the only route to build a stronger nation. It promotes education through award of scholarships to children and grandchildren of its own employees. About 500 employee families across different working units are benefitted by this programme annually.

Ranga Janma Vinimaya Kendra (RJVK)

This is a free forum for intellectual knowledge sharing. Monthly lectures are held in the corporate hall on various topics by respective experts followed by a question answer session

Art and Cultural Events

The group strongly believes in preserving the heritage of our country. A variety of traditional folk arts and cultural activities are organised/ sponsored in an effort to keep some of the dying

Indian traditions alive and also connecting people with their regional, cultural and social roots.

Vocational Training for Women

As a part of their CSR, the group is ardently committed towards the empowerment of women from rural, tribal and especially the women who hail from uneducated backgrounds. This is done by providing vocational training to women in bamboo splitting and sticks making, Agarbathi rolling, packaging etc. the programmes are conducted directly and through various state Government Agencies, Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts, NGOs and Self Help Groups.

Stakeholders

The school is formerly the part of the NR Group with its foundation based upon the charitable trust. NR Group is now given the status of multi-core organisation spreading across the globe & that has always been a keen participant for giving back to the society at large.

Recognition and Awards won over the years:

Three times winner of A.V. Suryanarayana Memorial Rolling Cup for all round excellence in music.
AIR Mysore and Doordarshan Bangalore have broadcasted programmes by the school children.
Regular winners of prizes at the Seetha Ranga Inter School Music Competition.
Winner of the Shield in Inter School Music Competition organized by the Disabled Development Society.
Regular winners of most of the prizes awarded at the annual cultural and sports activities organized by Karnataka State Government and local Rotary Clubs in Mysore for World Disabled Day.
Winner of all prizes awarded for Braille reading and Braille writing in
competitions organized at State level by Karnataka Blind Society for the
Bicentenary celebrations of Louis Braille in January 2009.
Winner of the NFB Karnataka Excellence Award 2011 for being an Outstanding Institution in service of cause of persons with visual disability.

Objectives of the organisation

Promoted by the NR foundation Group which firmly believes in giving back to the society, Ranga Rao Memorial School for Disabled is another feather in their basket for the betterment of the society.

The school aligns itself for the creating the awareness about critical importance of education to the visually challenged girls (partially and wholly) belonging to the economically inferior environment by organizing house to house visits and counselling their parents.

Moreover, the NR Group have taken regular efforts to improve the facilities in the school. They have the plans of setting up of an audio library and extending the facilities to higher classes in the same campus.

Financial, manpower strengths & constraints

Ranga Rao Memorial School for Disabled is a special school in Mysore. It was established in the year 1988. It is a free residential school for visually challenged girls from the economically weaker section of the society.

As learned, the school belonged to the NR Group which is well known for its social initiatives apart from being a status repute in the business world. Aligned with the NR Group the school also cited the evidences which underlined clear, positive, and dedicated aspirations turning into reality.

Financial strengths and constraints

The school is a part of the NR Foundation, a non-profit charitable trust promoted by NR Group. It is recognized by both state and central governments. Ranga Rao Memorial School for Disabled offers regular curriculum for the students up to the 10^th standard.

The schools’s funding is done completely by the NR Group , no other funding from any other bodies come into the funding of the school, ie; the administration is not obligated to any toher body as far as the financial strata is considered.

The school is a free residential school targeting for girls who are visually impaired and economically unsound. The school is well supported by the Karnataka govt.

In terms of financial strengths, the support of a strong group itself is the biggest strength who takes care of all the needs of the children who are studying there. Suggestions like more computers were needed were the feedback which we got from the staff in the school.

Doctor facility, latest software like JAWS for blind in computers, friendly lectures and many more are the advantages and strength of this school.

Man power strengths and constraints

The institute consists of 94 staffs of which 27 are teaching and remaining are non teaching. The teaching staffs consists of very efficient and experienced faculties , the teachers includes mainly females in which some are differently abled. The non teaching staffs include a driver , the mess staff , the hostel warden , security. However it is to be noted that security is not available during day time.

NR Ranga Rao Group founded in the year 1948 serves as the founder of Ranga Rao School

for Disabled. Today the business runs as a multi-core business and is counted in the ladder. The school was initiated in the year 1988 with the aim of giving back to the society at large and aimed for spreading the critical importance of education among the visually impaired girls. less of them who do have limited/partial sight are taught to use their sight to maximum effect, and are encouraged to assist the other totally blind students.

The constant support of the N R Group ensures that the school has enough man power in terms of doctor , warden etc. The another important thing I felt is that even while interacting with the students and teachers , though some of the teachers were visually impaired fully or partially blind, it felt like being in a normal school, the children were running around with all the happy faces- this environment is created by the attitude of the members of N R Group and this shows the organizational structure in which they are promoting everyone and encouragement is given to every talent that is there to reach the next level.

A suggestion that we like to provide is that a full-time security can be appointed to the school so that it can add to the safety of the students alothough safety measures like biometric systems are used to check in and check out of students.

Teaching faculty have genuine interst in teaching blind children, teachers show lot of patience, all of the teachers are well versed in braille and teachers are truly loyal and dedicated, and this was evident to us by how much the students adored and admired the teachers.

Interview

Mr. Harish

Mr Harish is the CSR executive of cycle brand NR Group. NR Foundation is the division made for CSR activities. He said that NR foundation concentrated on Mysore for the social initiatives. The first priority given is for RMSD and second preference is given to Prerana. Prerana is the slum development program which is a five-year project where seven slums are taken and education programs, women empowerment and youth skill development are provided by NR foundation.

He said people come to NR foundation for seeking help like students come asking for scholarship, kidney and heart patients. They support sports, arts and culture. Their marketing department sponcer and encourage the social initiatives.

Future activities he like to carry out is academic sustainability. The students in RMSD thirty percent of them are good in studies, some of the students who have studied in RMSD are currently working in the government sector also. Encouraging academically dull students, life skill development, skills to compete with sighted people, teaching of technology to them, use of daisy player (for VI) smart phone are some of his future plans.

He prefers placing ads on newspapers because it is more efficient. He said that there is a stigma in society especially in villages that why girl education is required? But for blind child? The effect double for visually impaired girls. But it is decreasing year after year, here in RMSD ninety percent of the students are from rural place, he is able to achieve because of motivating their parents and convincing them. Every year his team visits rural places just because to convince the parent of visually impairment child to send their children to RMSD.

He said parents tell him that “we only can’t take care of blind child but how Can you take care of them?”. this became the challenge to RMSD but he tackled it by convincing them that by giving example of how students are developing, learning new skills like braille, showing videos of RMSD, telling that RMSD alumni are doing PHD, working in government and private sector and convince them how education is important to blind children etc.,

He said that he was able to bring government help to organisation since last four years, Gourava dhana is one of the example that monetary encouragement given to teachers helping blind students from government. “Vishesaka makkala kendrikruta yojena” is also given by government.

After tenth standard (SSLC) he helps children to choose colleges he guides them where hostel facilities available. He prefers that it travelling from home to college is better for blind student as they have been in hostel for ten years. He helps students to get admissions in the collages. He has seen few dropouts from one to two percent.

He also said that students and parents has no way other than sending children to any of the blind school, because they cannot learn in the regular school, they have to be taught in a special environment. There is a negative perception in the society that is fear of safety to the children.

MS. Meera

Ms. Meera is the principal for RMSD for over twenty-five years. She said that school was strted with only one student back in 1988. During that time UNICEF arranged capainimng to bring awareness about this school. Institution got support from mysore jilla punarvasithi kaendra by which they could diagnose or check-up of the eye defect in the children. Later same children came to fourth standard if those children has to enter fifth standard they need to get permit, they protested in order to get permit then welfare office for disabled had provided the permit till tenth standard. During that time board exam was there for eighth standard students. At least ten members has to be there in school who want to enter eighth. During that time scribe was the problem, they were not able to get them when they needed.

She told that on every women’s day she will arrange alumni meeting. School got first award which is Surya Narayana award, then national federation of blind gave excellence award. Government gave award for excellent service and then state award has been given on world disability day.

Ms. Shanthi

She is blind since birth, She told that she is alumni, she studied standard 1 to standard six in RMSD. She joined RMSD as a part time teacher in 1990 and she converted to full time in 1996. She is highly qualified teacher she did BED, special BED, MA, DED. Guru sir one of the cycle brand helped her to join school.

She handles all classes, now she engages high school. English, economics, and sociology for tenth standard. She said she has job satisfaction here. She observed one thing that is old student were brilliant but new generation are enthusiastic but all are at same learning level.

She believes that blind students are no less than sighted students example students can do music, drama, education, basket making and drama. For this RMSD arranges a competition named Seetha Ranga music compotation, where sighted students come to RMSD and perform music. Students have to be made self-confident to challenge sighted people, for this she gives workshop to tenth standard students and guide them to achieve their goals.

She said that government is providing all necessities for VI, but it should reach all VI people. She told that government should provide more jobs opportunities to VI. Sighted People should cooperate with VI like guiding reserved seats for blind in bus, train, helping cross the road, telling bus number, telling colour.

Ms. Anurin

She is also blind since birth, she is from goa and joined RMSD for teaching from July of 2017. She shared her experience being visually impaired in the society. She learnt braille in pre-university, she did her BED and DED. she had a working experience of eight years in Jothi Seva blind school. She said she is self-reliant as she travels alone in Bangalore metro, train to Goa and she travelled to Poland.

Technology, internet, GPS helping her in all aspects. For example, while travelling in auto she knows her location by searching her GPS in google maps. Another example is BE MY EYES an application in the phone where she could get volunteers to get help using video conversion, example would be if she cannot differentiate currency whether it is five-hundred-rupee denomination or hundred-rupee denomination she uses that app where a volunteer person will video call her and tells what is the denomination. She told that “Technology I think, then helping the people who can see, it is helping visually impaired more, we all use it to maximum”.

Ms. Swapna

She is visually impaired person It has been more than three years since she joined the RMSD, she studied in Andhra Pradesh. She faced many difficulties in her life being blind, she explained importance how family and friend’s motivation will help her to achieve what is impossible to her.

With her friends and family support she did her PUC, BED, DED. She told that friends are responsible to break her glass ceiling. Being blind it is difficult to use public transportation as they there will be always risk factor and crossing roads, catching the right bus is also challenging task.

Ms. Malini

She is having eighteen years of experience in RMSD. She is not visually challenged. she joined here after teaching in sighted school, at first, she faced difficulties in teaching them as teaching procedure is different from teaching to sighted and non-sighted students. She told infect students only helper how to teach for them, for example how to hold their hands and helping them to move their hands in braille.

She explained braille learning is difficult for visually challenged students example children doesn’t even know the meaning of putting dot in braille it takes around more than fifteen days for lower class children to learn the letters in braille. Braille takes ore space on paper while writing. Students get hand pain while writing the braille because they have to punch through the thick paper in order to form words in braille.

Ninety percent of the students will learn typing braille quickly, for other ten percent teacher’s motivation will help the to learn. After they learn the mistakes made by students in reading and writing are very low compared to sighted students she said. And she told that the extra effort that students put matters and it will differentiate from other person, by this they will reach their goal but sighted people should have to support them.

Interview with one of the parent

Parent got to know about RMSD by campaigns which was carried over in villages. One of the teacher also guided them about blind schools for their daughter. Mr. Harish came to their village and convinced the parents to send her child to blind school for her better future. Parents know that the child cannot able to learn in normal sighted school, she has to be given special care with likeminded people in order to give education. Parents told that it is better for her here to learn than being in village.

For every two months or one and half months they will come to RMSD to visit their daughter. They got confidence that their daughter will get education till tenth standard (SSLC), they told that good care is taken here in RMSD.

Activities we carried out by us

Rangarao memorial school, situated in Metagalli, Mysore, is a residential school for visually impaired girls. We left our hostel at 9 in the morning and reached the school at 9:45. The school had in total 95 students and 25 teaching staff. After reporting, our members took on the job of understanding the structure in which the school ran on. Ms. Sheela one of the faculty members gave a tour of all classroom along with library, computer classroom, and hostel. We interacted with students and were keen on knowing their day to day activities first because we were completely unaware of the difficulties they have to go through in their day to day life. How are they studying and all?

The students here, after getting done with their regular necessary activities go for breakfast at 9:45 and the school starts from 10:15. Only visually impaired girl are given admission which includes some girls going through other major challenges as Autism. The school being a Kannada medium school, it’s difficult for teachers to teach English.

We went to the classes and saw students using Brail. It’s their own language which we can’t understand, at first at least. While writing, they will use a slate which has holes in it. One can push a nib inside the hole to get it printed on the paper down the slate. Those dots can be felt and understood accordingly.

Medical check-ups will be done to the students twice in a week by private doctors. They are hired by the school itself and the doctor come to the school every Wednesday at 2 in the afternoon.

Despite being visually impaired they regularly go for cultural activities like singing, dancing and crafting. Then, at 2 in the afternoon lunch will be ready for students in the canteen and they will have nice food there sitting on steel made tables.

Then we saw the craft work done by students. Luggage bags which made by plastic wires, and mats also. They do make handbags of out of newspapers and they sell the same to medicals because newspaper made bags can hold a limited weight only. The fund generated out of this sales is given back to students only and the school doesn’t anything out of it. These products are sold at different prices in the market including plastic bags for 150-200 rupees.

As we had a little discussion with Mr Harish yesterday, and we showed them our wish to conduct a seed plantation activity for the children of Rangarao memorial school for disabled. According to our plan today, we did the following activities. To make cost effective we got the coir from the gardeners of our college and went to the market to buy some seeds. We got a couple of types of flower seeds and plastic trays for plantation as well. After the lunch, students filled up the trays with the coir we got and watered the same.

As according to our plan which we conveyed to Mr. Harish, we started the day with getting some in-depth knowledge from brail teachers. We got know that there can be only six holes at max for a letter in brail language. And if in the second column the last one, on the bottom a dot exists, it’s a capital letter. Brail also uses the same capital, small, apostrophe, comma, semicolon and all such marks. There was an opportunity to understand about braille usage which is one of the unique learning.

We talked to Mrs. Anurin and she told us about the help technology is doing to even visually impaired. She told us about an app called Be My Eyes through which any person can call and through video call he can show the scene to the helper and he will get help.

Then we told some short stories to children which the student listened to keenly. And they looked really happy hearing the stories. After the stories, we asked some questions regarding the stories only which the students answered bravely.

We came across trainees (Duff and dumb school) for their own experience also for better learning and they shared their opinions. Interacted with high school students, gave a speech on topics of having a dream and how to achieve it. Discussed how high school is crucial for them and how efficiently they can manage time for board exams. Gave some tips to interact in English language confidently and importance of learning English (Because classes are in kannada medium).

We went to the Market to buy stencils for children with the hopes of teaching them how to sketch. Needless to say they need to only feel the edges of the stencils and draw along. This gave a smile not just in their faces but ours too.

We were then guided by Mrs. Monu, the English teacher on how to write English and kannada alphabets in braille. Just a slight lesson for us too gave us a view into their world.

Our SDMIMD college name, Sir Veranda Hegde’s name, and lord Manjunatjeshwara’s name was written by one of the student in braille.

We found that students are possessing high grasping power and have keen interest in learning new things. They even gave lot of respect to elders and later, they were made to dance for their favourite kannada songs.

We let the children play games in the hall which could improve their ability to locate things from their sounds, on the shore – in the water game.

We learnt how well the mess in school was organised, with managing inventory, bringing raw materials, cooking methods in Rangarao memorial school for the visually impaired.

Doctor arrived around late 2:30p.m and we learnt from her about the students in depth and asked her about various diseases and issues. We interviewed one of the parent who visited to see their daughter. We ended the day with the formulated plan for next day and came back.

As we came early to the school to attend the assembly for Prayer in school ground the following day. We experienced morning routine of the school. After the assembly one of the teacher read the newspaper to all students.

The day started off with verbal interaction with the ninth-grade students. the students were not very well versed in English. We had a hard time honestly while interviewing each student after the attendance was taken.

We moved to the tenth and felt pretty insecure actually from their level of intelligence, and their IQ . They were pretty well versed in English, economics, sociology, science and general knowledge. They still found English to be the hardest subject among the rest.

They had a music session before we could take them for an activity which we had planned. The activity involved drawing with the help of designed stencils which was bought on the previous day.

The students could feel the edges in the stencils and could draw the outline for each design. In other words, our activity was a success.

We Interviewed some teacher and also taken video of them sharing their experience, and we asked them about their hardships faced being visual impaired in the society and challenges faced while competing with normal people.

As Kannada Sahithya Sammelana is going on in Mysuru so school decided to take some children over there for giving exposure. We went with them to Kannada Sahithya Sammelana in Maharaja grounds and children were excited being part of huge crowd.

On the last day we hard a word with Harish sir and also took his interview, we collected information regarding the institution, his future plans for the school, problems that they face, he whole heartedly gave us all the information we asked for.

We interviewed the principal Ms. Meera after Harish sir interview, she shared what alumni of the school are doing and how this school gave foundation to them, she also shared her experience being the faculty for more than twenty years in the school, she expressed her job satisfaction working in the school.

We interacted with all the students of the school today in the assembly hall and we shared our experiences with the children.

We enjoyed the music session which carried today, as all the students sang in chorus in assembly hall which was tremendous and inspiring.

We even handed sweets to the students, and some more. Some to the faculty and some more to the students. They gave us a lavish clap thanking us. Tears rolled as we left on both sides.

Learnings from SRP

Our college – Shri Dharmasthala Manjunatheshwara Institute for Management Development (SDM IMD) gave us a Socially Relevant Project or SRP at the ‘Rangarao Memorial School for Disabled’. True to its title, this project served as a revelation for us during the course of our stay in the school.

This school admits partially or fully blind, visually impaired girls from various parts of the state. It freely educates them up to 10 th Standard, and then lets them into the society to pursue their passion in their area of interest. Some girls are day scholars while some stay there in the dormitories. However, most importantly, apart from the gift of education, the school teaches them about the basic life skills that are required to make a living. Initially, when they are first admitted into the school, they are taught the most elementary tasks such as brushing their teeth, bathing, making their bed, etc. On one hand, there are parents who support their girl child and want them to stand on their feet. They just do not know where to start. This is where the Rangarao Memorial School comes into picture. While on the other hand, it is doleful to realise that in many situations, girls end up not knowing how to do even the basic tasks because their parents would have given up on them.

No matter how harsh, the reality is that, in a country like ours, there still exists many stereotypes about the birth of a girl child. On top of that, when the girl is visually impaired, she is further considered as a bane rather than a boon. Thus, instead of embracing her the way she is and helping her, they think of her as liability to be shaken off as soon as possible. Nevertheless, the school takes care of everything from the beginning. One of the crucial aspects it focuses on is how to nurture the self-esteem of these girls and make them feel special. It teaches them to feel equal to the rest of the society and empowers them to live life on their own terms. One way of doing this is by ensuring that apart from studies, the girls are involved in various activities such as singing, dancing, arts and craft, sports, trade, typing, mobility training etc. Their computer skills are truly noteworthy.

In all aspects, they are no less than other students of similar age. One of the girls sang for us, and her voice was so beautiful that it felt that Goddess Saraswathi herself resided in the child’s voice. They even participate in competitions throughout the year; have successfully won many prizes and brought laurels to their school, parents and teachers who have continuously supported them. Two girls demonstrated their chess skills in front of us, and it can be clearly noticed that they have such tremendous potential, which should not be kept hidden from the outside world under any circumstances.

Another important observation made was about the intelligence of these students. Right from first standard, a few girls are very sharp and have a commendable grasping power. In addition, there are some teachers, who completed their education in the same school itself. They went on to do their degree in colleges such as ‘Mari Mallapa’ and ‘Mahajanas’ in Mysuru, and came back as teachers in their alma mater.

There are also students who presently work in bank and other governmental organisations. After spending so much time with them, it would not be surprising to hear that, like any other girl, they have dreams higher than the sky’s limit. We have complete faith in them, that they will fulfil those dreams and be independent in their respective professions and lives. They have the sparkle in their tiny eyes and the hope for creating a better world for themselves. They do not need our pity or even support for that matter. All they need is a little bit of love and humanity.

Suggestions for Improvement

This initiative taken by NR foundation is truly admirable. Right from its establishment in 1988, the school has had a constant growth in the number of girls admitted, which shows the trust that people have in the school. In order to continue growing like this, we have put forth a few suggestions for further improvements:

When the girls come to high school, their academics focus primarily on ‘Artha Shastra’ or Economics, because it is easier for them to understand and learn. However, this focus can be shifted to other subjects as well such as Political Science, Arts, etc. Even Mathematics, though slightly more difficult to comprehend through braille, can be encouraged to be taken up as a specialisation.
Even though the school has tried to reach ample number of people, many are still unaware about its existence and the noble cause that it aims to serve. Therefore, marketing campaigns on part of the NR foundation can really help in going a long way and find more people in need of this institution.
Sometimes parents are reluctant to send their girl child away to an unknown place. In such cases, the school should encourage parents who have previously admitted their children, to make new people aware of the good intentions of the institution so that they are willing to entrust the school with the safety of their child’s upbringing, education and future prospects.
The NR foundation can organise campaigns where they encourage people to sign up for eye donation. Donated eyes can be used to restore vision in people who are suffering from Corneal Blindness. Millions of people are in dire need of this and from each pair of donated eyes, two blind people will get vision and light in to their life, thus making it more divine.

Future of the Organisation

Looking at how the school has grown since its inception in 1988, there is no doubt that it will continue its noble journey successfully in the future as well. Even the NR group has taken various initiatives to improve the facilities of this institution. Currently it has a newly constructed first floor where classes from 8 th – 10 th standard go on.

They also have a library with a nice collection of Braille books, articles and Magazines. According to the foundation, the future plans for this institution consists of setting up of an audio library, and extending facilities to higher classes within the same classes. Slowly and steadily, the school is making its mark, and we are sure that it will produce successful students over the course of time.

INDIVIDUAL REPORTS

Socially Relevant Project

Ranga Rao Memorial School for Disabled

NIHAL M S | 17049

Your learning from SRP

To sum it up I can just say that SRP was an enlightening experience, but it was much more than that. While walking into the school, no person would get a feel that any student is visually impaired. Their enthusiasm, their energy is truly narcotic. In other words, you don’t feel like leaving the school. It grows on you.

From this programme any student would feel and understand how the world runs and works. We get a clear picture about life. In my case, I understood about myself. Helping about others and looking into others souls helps you look and understand yourself.

Student relevance is truly not a joke. How to help and how to respect. These are the things we students lack. And these are the attributes the companies actually look into. Not your CGPA, not your looks. Its your attitude towards others that the companies look into.

We were assigned to a school in the outskirts of mysore (or that’s what I think cause I can’t pronounce the name of the area). The school i.e Rangarao memorial school was a school for the visually impaired. They took in only visually impaired women since women are treated low in our society. From day 1 my team and I learnt how well-groomed and knowledgeable these young women were. There were more than 1 instance when we felt that these kids infact be smarter than their elders though they were partially or completely blind.

We took videos and pictures and learnt a lot from our SRP expedition. We even taught children who could not see how to speak English or rather reply in English since they found English the hardest. And they were well versed in subjects like economics and math. We gave a lesson on how to sow, from the seeds we bought and also taught to sketch from feeling the edges of the stencils.

We learnt from teaching the same too. We even improved our people skiills from the SRP.

Issues of societal problems and the empathy created in our group concerning the issues.

Social problems are the general factors that affect and damage society. A social problem is normally a term used to describe problems with a particular area or group of people in the world. Social problems often involve problems that affect real life. It also affects how people react to certain situations. Examples can include:

Anti-social behaviour
Poverty
Drug abuse
Prostitution
Alcohol abuse
Economic Deprivation
Unemployment
Sexual abuse
Rape
Early pregnancy
Female genital mutilation
Animal abuse

Women have been treated at the bottom of the food chain in India.

The SRP programme helped us develop an tap the side of us which proved that everyone has a sensitive side. We just need to find that side of us. Indian culture is downtrodden and backward. Empathy towards these can be shown with activities like:

SRP’s
NGO’s
School for special children
School for specific disabilities
Old Age home’s etc

ANISHA RONITA RAJ | 17053

What impact the SRP had on you and how it has influenced your world view?

After having the experienced the world through the perfect vision with all the support and belief. Each day was a different one, each day bought a miracle in its own way, none so blind as those that will not see that so what if I am disabled still make me hypnotic.

Visiting Rango Rao School for Disabled it was an amazing week that helped me understand towards the aim stepping forward over another. The dimension of learning with each other and the quotation, faculty, students, care takers, and the school members itself. As directed by our colleges vision and mission to develop business leadership infuse the wisdom and the school served as the place of learning and the belief of serving the society and not making profits was extremely learned. The school was evident that wisdom of learning is always the priority and how important education is. Every person in the school made me believe that the purpose of education and all the other activities how well versed it makes us grow as an individual which is redundant productively.

Issues of social problems and the empathy created in group concerning the issues.

The group shared live experiences with the faculty, students and few of the trainees to attach the moral sense through their own wishes. The basic issue highlighted during this was about treating the children in a way where how difficult it is for the teachers to control the kids while learning in the classrooms and how students find it difficult sometimes just to understand with the flying words. The group tried at the bets level to understand the mathematics, craft work, daily activities, learning rhymes, playing games. By the end of the week most of them were well tied to us and shall continue to be experienced. Interviews highlighted the most of them were trained and qualified which is very much essential. It also made us understand that the students enjoy home not because they have fun but the time spent with families were the value addition.

SWATHI PRASAD | 17090

What impact the SRP had on you and how it has influenced your world-view?

Our college – Shri Dharmasthala Manjunatheshwara Institute for Management Development (SDM – IMD) gave us a Socially Relevant Project or SRP at the ‘Rangarao Memorial School for Disabled’. True to its title, this project served as a revelation for us during the course of our stay in the school.

The school takes care of everything from the beginning. One of the crucial aspects it focuses on is how to nurture the self-esteem of these girls and make them feel special. It teaches them to feel equal to the rest of the society and empowers them to live life on their own terms. One way of doing this is by ensuring that apart from studies, the girls are involved in various activities such as singing, dancing, arts and craft, sports, trade, typing, mobility training etc. Their computer skills are truly noteworthy. In all aspects, they are no less than other students of similar age. One of the girls sang for us, and her voice was so beautiful that it felt that Goddess Saraswathi herself resided in the child’s voice. They even participate in competitions throughout the year; have successfully won many prizes and brought laurels to their school, parents and teachers who have continuously supported them. Two girls demonstrated their chess skills in front of us, and it can be clearly noticed that they have such tremendous potential, which should not be kept hidden from the outside world under any circumstances.

All this makes me realise, that even after not being given the gift of vision, these girls have not given up and continue to strive towards making a strong foothold for themselves in the society.

Issues of societal problems and the empathy created in your group concerning the issues.

There are umpteen problems created just by society itself. On one hand, there are parents who support their girl child and want them to stand on their feet. They just do not know where to start. This is where the Rangarao Memorial School comes into picture. While on the other hand, it is doleful to realise that in many situations, girls end up not knowing how to do even the basic tasks because their parents would have given up on them. No matter how harsh, the reality is that, in a country like ours, there still exists many stereotypes about the birth of a girl child. On top of that, when the girl is visually impaired, she is further considered as a bane rather than a boon. Thus, instead of embracing her the way she is and helping her, they think of her as liability to be shaken off as soon as possible.

However, after spending so much time with them, it would not be surprising to hear that, like any other girl, they have dreams higher than the sky’s limit. We have complete faith in them, that they will fulfil those dreams and be independent in their respective professions and lives. They have the sparkle in their tiny eyes and the hope for creating a better world for themselves. They do not need our pity or even support for that matter. All they need is a little bit of love and humanity.

BHAVANA M P | 17106

What impact the SRP had on you and how it has influenced your world-view?

Visiting RangaRao school for Disabled, it was a fascinating week that helped me to look into the new world of visually impaired children. Found a chance to interact and learn from the faculty, students, care takers, business group (Ranga Rao). It had a positive impact on me. I realized that one should have patience, perseverance as well as true passion for the job to become successful. Our short stay in the school helped us know the challenges the blind children face in their life in terms of mobility, education or Financially. Apart from this, children had big dreams i.e some wanted to become doctor, teacher, IAS officer etc.

As one my cousin is physically challenged, I am aware of challenges they face in their life. But they will be blessed with extra energy and some talents which help them be both mentally and physically strong. I enjoyed by spending time with children at the school. We interacted with the students, told some moral stories, played some games with them (chess, rolling the ball etc.)

So in a gist, it was truly inspiring and motivating experience. I learnt not to give up on anything no matter how hard it may be, as we are blessed with so much of strength and facilities when compared to these visually impaired students. Also realised we should be satisfied with whatever the God has given to us and should be thankful to him for giving this beautiful life with truly caring, supporting and lovable parents, education and healthy life.

Issues of societal problems and the empathy created in your group concerning the issues.

Some of the issues that we came across during the one week of SIP programme held at RMSD are Safety and secuirity,where some of the parents are scarred to send their children out, since their kids were blind.as a result kids missed to enjoy their leisure and other recreational oppurtunities. when we took interview of some parents, it was noticed that people are not aware existence of such schools(like RMSD).some people believe that providing education to these visually impaired is waste of time and money and may not entertain to have higher education.

On the other hand, there was positive attitude among students that they can also lead normal life, they were extremely happy and contented at school. They need support to achieve their goals and to live independently.as a citizen of India we need to come forward and should contribute to the betterment of the people.

RAKESH KUMAR | 17128

What impact the SRP had on you and how it has influenced your world-view?

SRP left a huge impact on my perception regarding disability. We got an opportunity to see their world in a close-up view. For a short period of six days we interacted with students there and somewhere I felt disability doesn’t just exist with them but with us, the so called normal beings, as well. They interact with the world around them profoundly. We ignore many things in our day-to-day life while they do interact more. They know exactly how many stairs are there where they go. They know every hole in the road they travel, and we, the normal beings, are unaware of the number of stairs in our home.

The first day I went to the school I saw the students running, one of the students’ name was Rakshita, and later on I got to know that she was full blind not just partial bling as I presumed seeing them running on the floor. How’s it possible? What does that mean? Aren’t we suffering with a kind of disability? Aren’t we ignoring things around us and focusing on materialistic world? Yes, we are! We don’t have that willingness. On the other hand, despite being blind, they are not giving up. They are not accepting blindness as weakness. They are not considering themselves to be any different from us, but they are as they are better than us.

So, they’ve got a huge respect in my eyes and all hail to this social relevant project.

Issues of societal problems and the empathy created in your group concerning the issues.

For visually impaired students it is difficult to find the right school. Even the students who are currently studying in this special school may find it difficult to adjust in the new school once they’ll move out of this school for higher education. And also, blindness doesn’t come seeing the location, however, the schools for such students are not available in every location. In a country with limited infrastructure like ours where a lot of villages are yet to get primary schools – it is only unwise to talk about schools for special children.

Even after they get education they still cannot find normal jobs. Many of them have to look towards someone else for their regular financial needs.

Maintain a balanced, healthy and nutritious diet. In the absence of financial resources, they cannot always get what they want. Sometimes, they are deprived of even proper nutritious diet.

Travelling is also a big task. Infrastructure in our country is not disable friendly and that again creates problems and they have to beg for help from other people

VENUKUMAR M | 17143

What impact the SRP had on you and how it has influenced your world-view?

“Only thing worse than losing sight, or being blind by having sight but no vision” Hellen Keller said that. I remembered that quote when I walk into to the RMSD. I learnt that students in the school who focus on the goal and keep moving one step at a time. I learnt Faith is the best friend while doing challenging task. Another lesson learnt is not letting the things which I cannot do which would barrier things which I can do in my personal world. I implemented winner’s mentality of children that is “I can do”. We are in a world which is constantly changing, change is often difficult we need to adopt it and we must learn new things day by day. sight to me is physical, vision is future and achievable which influenced me during my SRP days. Being there for a week school we learnt many things like never giving up and self-reliance. I like to thank our college for providing SRP opportunity.

Issues of societal problems and the empathy created in your group concerning the issues.

Heling others with disabilities is the empathy carved in the group. During the interview with the staff we got to know the latent problems which they face every day in the society. We understood that being sighted we need to help visually impaired. Education is the biggest societal problem for visually challenged people, we being responsible citizen should bring awareness about these schools especially in rural areas. In order to help them we installed BE MY EYES application in mobile device where we could help blind people through video conversation. Another important thing is we supported and encouraged them. Blind people will have severe limitations for employment opportunities also. Outside world is difficult for them like sports and other activities. The physical movement for them is difficult on roads we should help them in crossing roads, telling bus number, providing seats in public transport etc., as world is influenced by western culture, English language and technology is being prominent in today we should help visually challenged students learn English because all the classes of the school are taught in regional kannada medium.

HARI SANKAR P R | 17150

What impact the SRP had on you and how it has influenced your world-view?

The short stay of 6 days in the school and interacting with the students and teachers who are especially abled helped me to understand a lot of things which I must have been knowing but which took time to realize. Though the school was for visually impaired it just felt like I was in a school where everyone could the world, and understand the world was much better place, though they could not see any colors their lives were filled with a lot of colors, joy and happiness. The way those children were running around the place flying over the steps, the way they used computers – it all showed me how much the human potential is – it moved me to think that how much potential every human being have inside him and I was made to think as to how much of that potential are we really using? Another thing I realized was that there was no discrimination of color or creed among them, If a person who can’t see can attain a PhD, it shows how the phrase “NO EXCUSES” defines itself. The institution showed us how systematic life should be, it also showed how happy we all can be amidst of what all we have or don’t have. The interaction with the teachers helped me a lot, they shared their experiences, I should mention that the whole place was filled with positive energy and it also made me realize that we are only as blind as we want to be – Rangarao school was filled with visually impaired people, but all of them could see that world is a beautiful place to be.

Issues of societal problems and the empathy created in your group concerning the issues.

In the short span of time that was available we interacted with the staff and students in the institution, as per the interactions we found that the main challenges faced by them are that , parents are simply worried for their disabled children and hence refuse to send them away from home and it took them creating awareness among the parents and society and convincing them about all the safety aspects and finally making them to let their students stay in hostel for schooling.

The one thing that we all realized is that the children or the students are not disabled in any manner, they dance, sing, play cricket etc. in a way much beautiful than the ones who can see. These people are specially abled, instead of empathy or pity, what they really need is support.

Venu Kumar M

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