Hostel razed, blind students forced to stay in classrooms

Darusshifa: The students of the Government School for Blind (boys) at Darusshifa are left with no option but to stay in classrooms for boarding, as the old hostel structure was razed to build a newly proposed hostel in its place following government sanction of Rs 1.53 crore, which never materialised. One of the best blind schools in the world of yesteryears speaks volumes of the official apathy, as even after six-months following laying of foundation by local MLA, no works have been taken up.

As a part of Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan scheme, the State government sanctioned an amount of Rs 1.53 crore for the construction of new school building housing both hostel and classrooms, in place of the 80-year-old blind school located close to Salarjung Museum. "MLA Charminar, Mumtaz Ahmed Khan laid the foundation in February.

However, in the past six months, the officials of engineering department visited only once in June along with contractors to the site and held survey for the first time. It appears there is a lack of coordination between officials and the contractors as plans kept changing," said K Venkatramulu, the school Headmaster. Speaking to The Hans India, Venkatramulu said that it has been more than a year since the old hostel building was razed for coming up with a new structure. Earlier, the building was to house both hostel and school, but now plans are to construct only hostel building.

"As it's a residential school, we need classrooms as well as hostel for the students. As of now, the higher school has sufficient space for school, but primary section (with all 3 mediums English, Urdu and Telugu) is running in only 2 rooms crammed with students. Moreover, all these students are staying in classrooms for boarding, since the building was demolished," Venkatramulu added.

"Also, there should be a playground for the students, as they are blind, they should feel comfortable and need open space for walking," he added. Speaking on the issue K Venkatesh, Senior Congress Leader said, "In the name of development, the old building was razed down, now the school does not have a hostel for boarding students and forced to stay in classrooms", he added.

He also said that if the school was being developed the sanctioned amount should be released and the works should get started immediately. But even after several months not even a leaf moved from its place, said Venkatesh.

History of the school

It may be mentioned here that the school was established in the year 1939 by the Nizam. It was named Persian, 'Madarsa Barai-KoKar-WaGum and it was later named as Government School for Blind. In its first decade, the school became one of the best schools in the world for blind.

In 1952, the principal of the school K Ramchandra Rao was invited to France for honouring the Louis Braille posthumously in France. Inspired by the success of the blind school, Egypt also started its first Blind school in country.

In 1954, as a part of world tour, Helen Keller (an American educator who overcome the adversity of being blind and deaf to become one of the 20th century leading humanitarians), visited Hyderabad and the school was added in the list of best school in the world.