Visually impaired persons who had organized a function to mark the World Braille Day turned emotional after invited officials skipped the event at SP College here. 

The event was organized by J&K Welfare Association for Blind, a group of visually impaired persons. The function was scheduled to start at 10:30 am, however, it was delayed as organizers waited for the officials who were invited to the function. 
 

However, as the officials did not turn up, many visually impaired persons turned emotional and burst into tears. 

Amid bone chilling cold and rains, some of the visually impaired persons with bouquets were standing outside the venue hall to welcome the officials. 

As the clock struck 11:30am, not a single invited officials reached the venue. 

“This shows apathy of government towards us,” said a group of visually impaired persons. 

“It was not an event to celebrate New Year or enjoy feast, that is why officials preferred to stay away. They would have thought visually impaired persons would not offer them anything. We are disappointed and hurt,” said Manzoor Ahmad, a young visually impaired person.

His speech turned the atmosphere emotional. Tears rolled down from eyes of most of participants. Though organizers tried to console them but in vain. 

“We had planned to demonstrate how visually impaired persons can pick up computer skills. We want to spread computer literacy among the visually impaired and encourage students like us to be independent and believe in themselves," said the organizers.

The organizers said that they had invited Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Deputy Commissioner Srinagar and Director Social Welfare as special guests for the event.

“No official among them arrived. We had thought that they would hail our efforts for organizing this event and would speak few words to encourage us,” they said.

World Braille Day is annually celebrated on January 4, the birthday of Braille inventor, Louis Braille. The day recognizes the contributions of Louis Braille in helping blind and visually impaired people to read and write.
Source: http://m.greaterkashmir.com/news/srinagar-city/officials-skip-world-braille-day-commemoration/237911.html