Aarti Kapur

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 14

As many as 18 girl students participated in a fashion show, which was organised by the National Association for the Blind (NAB) to celebrate International White Cane Day, at the Post Graduate Government College for Girls, Sector 11, here today.

“I used to count the moves which I have to make on the ramp before the commencement of the show and this is what professional models also do,” this was stated by one of the participants Sabina, who is 100 per cent visually impaired. She won the ‘Miss Confident’ title. “I was not nervous while walking the ramp as I could not see the audience’ reaction,” she said.

Another participant Jyoti Malik, who earlier had won the ‘Miss Confident and Miss Farewell’ titles at Guru Nanak Girls College in Ludhiana, also participated in the fashion show today. 

“This is for the first time that such show has been organised for visually impaired. This is a real competition as participants will be awarded on the basis of their performance, and not on the     sympathy of the judges,” said Jyoti.

UT Social Welfare Director Nishu Singal was the chief guest on the occasion. The celebrations included a fashion show and a talent hunt competition amongst visually impaired students from institutes across Chandigarh and Punjab. The intent was to encourage academic as well as overall personality development of such students and provide them with a platform where they could showcase their talent.

Vinod Chadha, honorary president, National Association for the Blind, said the shortlisted candidates from the fashion show would further participate in Princess India Contest in Mumbai. 

The talent show, open to all visually impaired students from participating institutes, was divided into two categories – Individual and Group. The Individual category was further divided into Low-vision and Total Visual Impairment categories.

Source: http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/chandigarh/community/visually-impaired-girls-light-up-the-ramp-in-style/309812.html