The Trainees of the Industrial Training Centre for the visually and hearing impaired run by National Association for Blind in association with Department of Women and Child Development and Department for the Empowerment of Differently Abled and Senior Citizens at Yadavagrii industrial area in Mysuru are blessed for they are served every afternoon a wholesome mid-day meal by an octogenarian who, importantly serves them with love. She is 87 and her relentless service has been bringing contentment and smiles to the faces of numerous God’s Own Children since the past 27 years.
Parvathi Ponnappa and her husband Ponnappa who are natives of Kodagu shifted to Mysuru in 1983. The couple who are planters in Kodagu used to do a lot of social work there and continued to do the same even after migrating to Mysuru. When they were in Kodagu, Parvathi who is a devotee of Puttaparthi Sai Baba used to buy medicines and provide the same to the patients mired in poverty. The people of Kodagu returned her love by calling her “doctor”. Later when they shifted to Mysuru, she continued with her service to humanity.
Annadathe Sukhi Bhava
One fine day when the couple was at home, Parvathi came across a student with a stick. She came to know that he was blind. Soon she suggested to her husband that they visit the institute where this student was studying. After visiting the institute and seeing the blind students there she asked the manager what sort of help she could provide to the institute. And the manager requested her to provide lunch for the inmates at least once in a month.
Parvathi approached some likeminded people with the proposal and they wholeheartedly joined hands with her for the noble cause. As usual, it turned out that the fad was just initial and the euphoria among many involved fizzled out in no time. To start with quite a number of people had joined hands but gradually one by one they started to leave the noble activity and in just one and a half years all her friends left the cause. But a gritty Parvathi who believes in Puttarparthi Sai Baba continued to serve free lunch to the students single-handedly and there is no stopping her still. Since the past 27 years, she has been providing free lunch to nearly 40 people including 31 students everyday. As fate would always have it, she lost her only companion in service, her husband 10 years ago. After that, since a past couple of years a few good souls like Chetan and his friends from Infosys are supporting her Annada the endeavour.
Parvathi who has three children said, “It’s just by the blessings of Puttaparthi Sai Baba that I am able to do this work. Initially, I had not told my children about these activities. But later they came to know about this and assured me to continue this service. In a month, once or twice I visit the centre and make payment for the food”.
The Department of Women and Child Development and Department for the Empowerment of Differently Abled and Senior Citizens honoured Parvathi by giving her a certificate of appreciation. Many clubs too felicitated Parvathi for her outstanding contribution to the voluntary service sector. Four to five times, Parvathi has met Puttaparthi Sai Baba and taken his blessings. She is also the secretary of Sai Ranga Vidya Samsthe, which is an exclusive residential school for the hearing impaired boys. The school has classes from 1st to 10th standard. It’s an absolutely free residential school for the students who come from across the state.
K M Puttaraju, a first batch student of the institute and who is now serving as a trainer in the same institute said, “No words can match her good work. Really, she is doing an outstanding work by providing the much-needed lunch for students. Long live Parvathi madam”.
A Srinivas, Manager of National Association for the Blind and Industrial Training Centre for Blind /Deaf said “Parvathi madam is really doing a great service to humanity by providing free lunch for the past nearly 27 years. During the past couple of years, some philanthropists too have joined hands with her in her noble service”.
The Industrial Training centre for deaf and dumb
The only free Industrial Training Centre for blind and deaf in state is in Mysuru at Yadavagiri. It is run by the National Association for Blind and is doing yeoman work in the service of the blind. The students soon after completing one year ITI training course usually get placed in various firms.
The training centre which admitted the first Batch of trainees in 1989-90 entered its 27th year of service during the year 2016-17. At present, there are two visually challenged and 30 hearing impaired candidates who are undergoing training. Visually impaired and hearing impaired boys and girls of Karnataka who have passed SSLC examination are eligible for admission. To start with, for the first six years, the centre trained visually impaired boys alone. Later, on the occasion of silver jubilee of the centre, it started free training for girls as well. During the training, each trainee gets Rs 250 as stipend provided they have a 100 percent attendance record in a month.
During the one year course the students undergo training in light engineering, filing and fitting jobs, plastic injection moulding, basic electricals, rescanning of chairs, mat making and basic computers. The training programme is recognised and affiliated by the Board of Technical Education. As the training programme is recognised under the S.C.V.T. and affiliated by the Employment and Training Department, Bengaluru, the trainees get confirmed placement opportunities. The centre has placed maximum trained candidates in public and private sectors and made them economically and socially independent. Since 18 years the Rotary Club of Mysore Mid Town is encouraging the trainees by giving Rotary awards for meritorious performance and highest attendance. Many philanthropists are also encouraging the students by providing them scholarship.
A Srinivas, Manager, Industrial Training Centre for Blind and Deaf said, “It is the only centre in Karnataka which is providing free one year ITI course for blind and deaf. Government is also funding for the centre. The centre is well-equipped with all the required instruments. The students soon after completing the courses are placed in various firms”. Those who want to know more about the course can contact Mob: 9900372254 or Ph: 0821-2514431.
