Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 9

This Diwali again, Institute for the Blind, Sector 26, is ready with its brand of candles and lamps, assembled by blind students. 

 For the last 20 years, the institute has been selling them. “We do not put any stall. But every year, customers have been coming to the school. The scale has risen in the last few years,” said secretary BD Sharma. He said, “The school is able to make a sale of Rs 2.5 lakh on Diwali.” 

 “The rate is much cheaper as compared to the market. Our wax is of higher quality and finishing is good,” said Joint Secretary Prem Girdhar.  The school with the help of its Class IV employees makes candles and blind students help in packing them. In earthen lamps, students help in inserting wick. 

 Different shapes of candles are available, including those which can float on water and are in shape of animals. Wax balls are sold which can be fixed on gates.   The school purchases wax from the Sangrur’s oil depot. 

 “I like packing candles. We do it after our school for two hours. We have to start a month before Diwali,” said Manoj Kumar (20), a student of Class XI. Kumar hails from Kangra, Himachal Pradesh, and lives in the school hostel. 

 “Those who could see a bit are employed for packing candles and inserting wicks in earthen lamps. 

As a number of students are involved, we enjoy a lot. We wait for it,” said Varun Kumar (20), a student of Class XI. He is from Manimajra and lives in hostel here. 

 “Making candles with wax could be risky for students, so we do not allow them. They work on packing them. Only hostellers are working as it is done between 2 pm to 4 pm. Recently, the lamps with wax are selling a lot, so we are preparing them too,” said Girdhar. 

 Besides this, the school also sells floor dusters. 

 The school also provides students with computer literacy through screen reading software. Girl students are also trained in stitching, knitting, cookery and embroidery.  The school has 100 hostellers and 60-day scholars. 

 Shivam Saini (18), student of Class XII, who inserts wick in lamps, said, “We are happy that our candles and lamps sell alot. We love activities of this kind. As of now, we are all waiting to go home on Diwali. We would work till October 18.”
Source: http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/chandigarh/this-diwali-too-they-will-give-light-to-others/479977.html