MCDS and the Visually Impaired
----------------------------------------------

The MCDS rehabilitation programme for the visually impaired consists of a music troupe called “THE SOUND OF MUSIC”. The Sound of Music is a music group with a difference. All its members, 20 of them, are young, extremely dynamic and talented persons with visual disabilities.

Their aim is to prove to themselves, other people with disabilities and to the world that disabilities can be conquered at least to a certain extent and what they need is not sympathy, but opportunity - opportunity without prejudice.

MCDS promotes two aspects:

a) Promotes their higher studies with a view to secure Government jobs. Most of the members of the troupe are either graduates or postgraduates with a diploma for teaching music. Half of them have already landed Government jobs as music teachers.

b) Promotes their career as musicians. This involves constant training and practice under expert guidance. The Sound of Music also undertakes personal performances in India as well as abroad. They are at ease with both popular and classical music using the latest instrument with the music industry.

TELEPHONE OPERATOR COURSE 
Training programme for visually impaired (possible sponsorship by State Government).

JOB OPPORTUNITIES FOR VISUALLY IMPAIRED

	Chair re-canning
	Music classes by qualified visually impaired persons
	Assistance in job placement

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

STRIKING A SPECIAL CHORD

It was an evening of melody and soulful tunes, all for a moving cause. And for evoking one binding emotion, love, that transcends all barrier, stigma and prejudices.

“If music is the food of love, then play on”.

True to the maxim, the troupe went on regaling the audience with all-time popular and romantic Hindi and Telugu filmi numbers, old and new. If some were breezy, others were tender and soothing. But the impact was same. It touched hearts and there was an outpour of emotions.

And evoking this unbelievable response from the audience was the musical troupe that came all the way from Chennai in a fund-raising concert. Throwing its talent behind Prajwala, the city-based NGO working for the rehabilitation of HIV positive children, the troupe left every one inspired to do their bit for the innocent children. A few of the kids were sexually exploited too.

When the young members of “Sound of Music” troupe can show the way, why can’t we? This was the one overwhelming thought that apparently translated into a deafening applause for the troupe. Not only for the talent, but also for their compassion and concern for the unfortunate.

It is no ordinary troupe. The members are visually impaired. The differently able singers cannot see in the physical sense, but they demonstrated that they have a vision to reach out to those looking for support from community.

True. They do not see the beautiful rainbow, the gushing stream, the dreamy moonlit nights and mesmerizing dawns. But they proved they could feel them all through their captivating rendition. Mind you.

They are not professional singers and belonged to different fields. Yet, that was the hold Praveena, Jeena, Eswari, Sayyad, Mylapalli and Robert had over their audience.

The usually composed bureaucrats, be it Principal Secretary, Minnie Mathews or State AIDS Control Society Project Director, Damayanti, were moved as was evident in their response. IPS official, Tajdeep Kaur Menon, was seen struggling with her emotions, as she read out her poems on the sensitive theme of positive children and women. She parted with a personal memento, a Casio, which she handed over to the troupe, as a token of her appreciation.

Sunitha Krishnan of Prajwala touched a chord when she said, “This is a journey for evoking generosity, hope and happiness. For creating a world of love, compassion and devoid of stigma. Don’t deny admission to these children in schools, hospitals and homes.”


By M.L. Melly Maitreyi
Courtesy: THE HINDU