Jalpaiguri, Nov. 9: Sixteen years after the JalpaIguri Welfare Association built the Centre for Special Education for Disabled Children, it has scripted a success story by helping build the lives of disabled children from Jalpaiguri and neighbouring areas.

The school started its journey on January 11, 1987 with eight children suffering from cerebral palsy. Since then, the total number of students has crossed the 120 mark and an Out Patient Department (OPD) has been opened to take care of children who come from outside the district.

Principal of the school Swati Mitra Mazumdar said: “We keep the disabled children here for treatment. We offer treatment to children who are suffering from cerebral palsy, are mentally retarded, physically paralysed or impaired in speech, vision and hearing. We have opened many new departments. We judge the cases individually and then, depending on the child’s mental aptitude, go ahead with appropriate treatment. Whether we keep them in the school for treatment regularly or twice a week depends on the assessment.”

According to the principal, the centre is gaining popularity with the success rate of the students getting higher everyday. “We have students like Swaswati Guha Roy and Nandini Mazumdar who underwent treatment at the institute and were then inducted into normal schools. They are continuing their education now. As far as the other students are concerned, some are continuing their treatment while others are back in their homes,” she said.

Students come from different parts of the town and also from places like Mainaguri, Dhupguri, Gayerkata and Birpara. Some children come from neighbouring districts as well. “We do not take any money from the students. Our expenditures are met by some grant-in-aid, which comes from the Central government, an annual lucky coupon draw and donations. Though we have limited resources, we are trying our best to upgrade technical resources and treatment,” Mazumdar added.

The centre has 15 teachers and four non-teaching staff. The teachers have trained at reputed institutes like National Institute for the Orthopedically Handicapped and the Indian Institute of Cerebral Palsy. They apply physiotherapy, group hearing courses, tactile method and teaching Braille through Taylor frame and Abacus method to cure the children or reduce their problems.

While students like Binoy Pratihar, Ruma Roy, Rana Roy and Siten Roy continue their treatment here, their seniors and batch mates have proved that they are no less than normal children. “We are proud of the performances of our students. They have even participated in athletics meets at the national level. Some are good at painting while others have proved their mettle as actors. We observe World Disabled Day on December 3 every year. During the day-long function, these children entertain us with their talents and abilities,” Mazumdar said.

The shining trophies, shields and medals, standing behind her chair, bear testimony to the triumph of the children.