Social welfare department of the government of Jammu and Kashmir will be open for enrolling pellet blinded students in a school for blind and specially-abled which it took over in May.
The department has taken over the lone school in the state for the blind, the Modern High School in Solina, Srinagar which is also known as Abhenandan Home founded way back in 1941.
According to State Human Rights Commission figures, 2524 people were injured by pellets, many in the eyes following the killing of Hizbul Mujahidin Commander, Burhan Muzzafar Wani in July 2016.
“Of course the pellet victims will be enrolled in the school, if they want to,” said Ruqsana Gani, Director Social Welfare Department.
Many students injured by the pellets and variously blinded have found it difficult to go back to school and pursue studies normally, or have completely dropped out.
A majority of the pellet victims are under 20 years of age.
Insha Malik, a girl from Shopian who was completely blinded by pellet injuries, is the only student enrolled in a private school (DPS, Athwajan) and taught Braille. Most others have been brooding over a dark future.
The Abhenandan Home, the only special school for the blind and hearing impaired in the state has two buildings and a spacious lawn. A large chunk of land owned by it is under the occupation of security forces.
Secretary Social Welfare Department, Farooq Lone said the Jammu and Kashmir Projects Construction Corporation has been asked to make a plan for construction of a modern residential school on the premises.
“Whoever the victim is, will be enrolled in the school,” Lone said, adding the ministry of social justice has agreed in principle to fund the project.
“An official trust has been made and the board of trustee will be monitoring the functioning of the school.”