Sri Vijaya Puram, October 30: The Composite Regional Centre (CRC), A&N Islands, in association with Hope Foundation, Sri Vijaya Puram, organised an awareness programme today to commemorate White Cane Safety Day and promote the spirit of Swachhata Hi Seva 6.0, with enthusiastic participation from Divyangjan, CRC staff, members of Hope Foundation and students of JNRM and ANCOL. The programme witnessed the participation of around 70 people, reflecting a collective commitment towards accessibility, inclusion and cleanliness. Mrs. Farida Bibi and her dedicated team from Hope Foundation played an active role in making the programme a success.
White Cane Safety Day is observed to recognise the white cane as an important symbol of independence, confidence and dignity for persons with visual impairment. The day also aims to create awareness among the public about the mobility challenges faced by visually impaired persons and the need to ensure safe, accessible and barrier-free public spaces.
The programme commenced with an awareness rally from Clock Tower, Aberdeen Bazaar, to Tiranga Park, which was flagged off by Mr. Ram Parvesh, Deputy Director (Science), Directorate of Education, in the gracious presence of Mrs. Sumithamol S., Director, CRC, A&N Islands. The rally spread important messages on white cane safety, road awareness, accessibility, dignity and independent mobility of persons with visual impairment.
Adding a creative dimension to the awareness campaign, a street play highlighting the significance of White Cane Safety Day and the objectives of Swachhata Hi Seva 6.0 was staged near the Mahatma Gandhi Statue, drawing attention to the importance of public sensitivity, inclusive mobility and maintaining clean surroundings.
A Swachhata Pledge was also administered to the gathering, reaffirming everyone’s responsibility towards cleanliness and a healthier environment. Subsequently, the CRC team and participants enthusiastically undertook Shramdaan for nearly an hour in the vicinity of the Mahatma Gandhi Statue, demonstrating that cleanliness is a shared responsibility and must translate into meaningful public action.
The programme concluded on a spirited note, reinforcing the message that an inclusive society and a clean environment go hand in hand. The active participation of Divyangjan, students, volunteers, the team from Hope Foundation and institutional representatives made the event a meaningful example of community engagement, social responsibility and collective action.
