Sanidhya School celebrates I-Day in a ‘special’ way

Mangaluru: It was a joyful moment as specially-abled children at Sanidhya School at Bikarnakatte celebrated 71st Independence Day here on August 15 with great enthusiasm.

Well-wisher of Sanidhya and Chartered accountant from Abu Dhabi Valerian Dalmaida and his wife Blance Dalmaida joined the differently abled students in the celebration as guests of honour.

Addressing the gathering Mr Dalmaida lauded the institution for its yeomen service and said that any act of philantrophy to support this institution may fall short before the service done by Sanidhya. “Every individual is blessed with innate ability and talent and specially able persons are no different, ” he said.

Emphasising that in this materialistic world it is only good deeds of a person that live on even after a person has died, Dalmaida said, “This life is not ours. We exist because of our parents. We speak, walk, eat because of them. We are educated because of our teachers. When we die others carry our bodies. Body and soul too do not belong to us. What we leave here is only the good deeds, ” he said once again lauding the dedicated team of Sanidhya for shaping specially abled persons into independent individuals. “Your service symbolises true love for nation,” he added.

Meanwhile, Blance Dalmaida wished all the best to Sanidhya team and hoped that the good work of the school continues without any hurdles in future.

The students displayed their exceptional talents on the occasion. Welcome dance presented by the students of Sanidhya on ‘Bharath Humko Jaan Se Pyara Hai’ was well-appreciated. Students of Sanidhya also displayed their skills through live band. The students also presented cultural programme with a dance on Rani Laxmi Bai’s heroic advents.

Vasanth Shetty, the chief of Sanidhya and a renowned special educator in his welcome address lauded the Dalmaida couple for their support to the institution. Shetty gave an insight into the inception of the institution and it’s growth and attributed the same to collective work of teachers, well-wishers and trustees.

Vasanth Shetty and the trustees of Ganesh Seva Trust, which runs the institution then felicitated the Dalmaida couple with a memento and a painting by the Sanidhya students.

Earlier the guests hoisted the flag to mark Independence day. Gladis D’ Souza, one of the parents introduced the guests to the gathering. Suma Dsilva, assistant co-ordinator of Sanidhya rendered vote of thanks. Trustees of Ganesh Seva trust were present on the occasion.

Currently Saanidhya Residential School & Training Centre for the Mentally Challenged located at Shaktinagar accomodates over 160 specially able children with the support of teachers and caretakers.