Visually-challenged children show medals won at the National Blind Sports Meet organised at New Delhi recently. Picture by Prashant Mitra

Ranchi, Dec. 12: Children who cannot see but have brought laurels for the state and their alma mater from national sports meets are not provided monetary help by the ministries concerned but are instead prevented from availing their rights.

Ten students of St Michael’s School for the Blind, who were entitled to railway concession, were detained at Ranchi railway station for eight hours before they were scheduled to leave for a national level sports meet.

“On the day of our departure for New Delhi, we were held up at Ranchi railway station for more than eight hours to get concessions allowed to the children,” said M.T.P. Agrawal, headmistress of the school.

“Railway authorities refused to accept the civil surgeon’s certificate that clearly stated that the children were visually-challenged. They insisted on an eye specialist’s certificate, which we were unable to provide as the disability is certified by a board of doctors who examine the children,” she added.

After long discussions and attempts to convince the railway authorities, a call from higher authorities settled the matter and a concession was allowed to the children.

The children participated in the National Blind Sports Meet organised at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, New Delhi from December 2 to 4. Ten students of St Michael’s School for the Blind represented the state at the meet where they bagged four medals at events in which they faced competition from children at the national level.

“In the shotput event, the children were categorised into two groups — B1 and B2. The B1 category was for children who were completely blind and B2 was for those with partial blindness,” said Agrawal.

“Every alternate year, the children represent the state at the national-level meet. But the sports ministry has never provided funds for the trip or the uniform of the children, who are the pride of the state,” said a teacher of the institution.

This year’s trip was completely funded by Stem International Private Limited.