by reciprocal arrangement with Star of Mysore

Mysore, Apr 4: It was a case of utter negligence of officials and elected representatives' lack of concern for physically disabled at the Chamundi Vihar Stadium here yesterday.

Hundreds of physically challenged children including blind waited for hours sitting on the parched ground and scorching sun above.

The chief guests did not think it fit or did not even show humanitarian concern to come in time for the inauguration of three-day sports meet on the occasion of World Disabled Day.

The sports meet for the disabled was organised jointly by the Disabled and Elder Citizens Welfare Department, Department of Women and Child Development and the City Corporation.

The meet was to be inaugurated at 9.30 am by MP C.H. Vijayashankar. Other chief guests were the former Deputy Chief Minister Siddharamaiah, MLAs H.S. Shankaralingegowda and M.K. Somashekhar, MLCs D. Madegowda and Marithibbegowda, ZP Vice-President K. Marigowda and Women and Child Development Department's Assistant Director Vimala.

Nearly 500 students of the Government School for the Blind were brought in an open lorry, which itself was a pathetic scene to witness. The scene of physically challenged students holding onto each others' shoulders to balance in the moving lorry would have pained even a stone-hearted man.

All the same, the beaming and enthusiastic children got down and headed to the grounds to stand in groups for the march- past. It was 9.30 am and organisers were not aware that the so-called VIPs had other business to do, than come in time for the inauguration.

As the clock ticked past 10 am, the children, who stood all the while in scorching sun, became tired and had to sit on the ground. Here, the organisers were cooling themselves under the trees outside the stadium making frantic calls to find out when the VIPs are arriving, if at all.

The MP Vijayashankar did arrive at 11 am, one-and-a-half hour behind schedule, and released the pigeons to declare open the meet. But other chief guests did not turn up at all.

When the organisers did not bother to bring the children to wait under a shade, the lady teachers from JSS School showed concern and made them wait at least in the building corridors, minutes before the VIPs arrival.

It was heard from the group of teachers that the organisers should have let a mentally disabled boy to inaugurate the meet as the boy himself went to hoist the flag unknowingly.

While the parents were grumbling about the situation of their wards waiting in the sun, the children were cool, composed and smiling which was heartening to see.

Mathru Mandali Vidya Kendra, NAB Blind and Deaf Childrens Training Centre, Puttaveeramma School for the Deaf, Rotary School and others are partici-pating in the meet which will conclude tomorrow on the World Disabled Day.