JOWAI:
Education Minister Lahkmen Rymbui, on October 19, inaugurated a training programme for the visually impaired in West Jaintia Hills district, which has been provided by the Society for Urban and Rural Empowerment (SURE) – the training partner of the Meghalaya Skill Development Society (MSSDS).
Rymbui, in his inaugural speech, emphasised that everyone has been bestowed with talents and the power of thinking and understanding and noted that even some normally-abled individuals fail to make the best use of their cognitive abilities and talents. Rymbui inspired all the trainees to draw inspiration from Kelvin Suting, the master trainer, who could serve as a role model for them and mentioned that the government has schemes that the visually impaired can access.
Dr H H Mohrmen stated that SURE, in collaboration with Lambormi Suchen, Skill Development Officer (SDO) of West Jaintia Hills, has worked tirelessly to develop training modules and provide much-needed training to this section of society, further highlighting the uniqueness of this training, as both the master trainer, Kelvin Suting, from the District Commerce Industries Center (DCIC), and all seven trainees are visually impaired. This training, he said, challenges the statement “the blind cannot lead the blind.”
Lambormi Suchen, SDO, expressed pride in West Jaintia Hills district being the first district in the state to provide training for the visually impaired, led by a master trainer who is also visually impaired. The one-month training for visually impaired trainees covers broomstick making and mator or bamboo broom production.
Kelvin Suting, the award-winning master trainer recalled his past experiences with trainings and highlighted the issue of trainers who were not visually impaired struggling to understand the challenges faced by blind trainees. Based on this observation, the training was specially designed by the staff of SURE in collaboration with the master trainer to cater specifically to this section of the population. The training has to be only by using sense of touch because the trainees cannot see, Kelvin said. The training syllabus has been tailored to meet the needs of the visually challenged, he added, emphasizing that “only the blind can teach the blind.”
Krishna Phawa, one of the trainees, expressed his aspiration to follow in Kelvin’s footsteps and hoped that the training would enable him to earn a livelihood and find success in life. He also thanked SURE and MSSDS for the training and believed that all seven trainees would benefit from the one-month programme.
Other speakers at the meeting included GLC Mylliem, Block Development Officer (BDO) of Amlarem Sub Division, B. Wajri, General Manager of District Commerce and Industries (DCIC), Waheh Chnong of Moosakhia, D. Suting, and the meeting was chaired by Ilasiewdor Gashnga, staff of the project manager of Skill SURE.