Punjab Minister for Social Justice, Empowerment, Minorities, Social Security, and Women and Child Development, Minister Baljit Kaur , stated that the Punjab government, led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, is fully committed to supporting NGOs dedicated to the welfare of the underprivileged and differently-abled people in the state. She made these remarks while addressing the 58th Foundation Day celebration of the Society for Welfare of Handicapped at the Deaf and Blind School in Saifdipur village.
Minister Baljit Kaur praised the Society’s dedicated efforts to empower children with speech, hearing, and visual impairments, helping them integrate into society. She announced a grant of ₹5 lakh for the improvement of the school’s infrastructure, emphasizing the government’s support for such valuable initiatives.
“The government is committed to uplifting all sections of society to create a ‘Rangla Punjab’,” she said, acknowledging that while there may be challenges, organizations like this bridge those gaps with selfless service.
Minister Baljit Kaur also shared her experiences of treating eye ailments in Muktsar and urged the public to pledge their eyes for donation. Drawing inspiration from Helen Keller, Dr. Kaur applauded the teachers at the Deaf and Blind School and remarked, “These children are not disabled; they are gifted and are already making an impact on society through their talent.”
The event also featured impressive performances by students from the Patiala School for the Deaf, the School for the Blind, and the Patiala School for the Deaf-Blind. The Cabinet Minister commended the students, emphasizing that they are masters of unique skills and nothing can prevent them from achieving success.
Colonel Karminder Singh, Secretary of the Society, shared that the school has been providing free education for over 58 years to more than 450 differently-abled students from 13 states, including Punjab. He described the empowerment of these children as both a challenge and a mission.
The event was attended by ADC (G) Isha Singal, Pawan Goyal, Brigadier R.S. Mann, Jagjit Sarin, Roop Kamboj, S.K. Kochhar, Baba Gurnam Singh, Shiv Dutt (UK), along with the Principals of the Deaf and Blind Schools, Renu Singla and Kavita, as well as a large gathering of students, teachers, parents, and other distinguished guests.