DC Srinagar inspects progress of new State-of-the-Art School for Specially Abled with hearing & speaking challenges at Abhinandan Home

• Hands over dedicated School Bus for students with special needs to ease transportation and ensure their safe and convenient travelling

SRINAGAR: Deputy Commissioner (DC) Srinagar, Akshay Labroo, on Wednesday visited Abhinandan Home, Solina,  inspected the progress of ongoing construction of a new State of the Art School Building complex at the institution, aimed to strengthen educational infrastructure and allied facilities for Kashmir’s oldest institution catering specially abled children, particularly those with hearing and speech impairments.

The first-of-its-kind facility in the entire Kashmir Division being developed at an estimated cost of Rs 9.90 crore by R&B Department under the Social Welfare Department is envisaged to provide modern infrastructure and enhanced educational prospects, skill development avenues and employment opportunities for children with special needs, besides creating a more conducive, inclusive and accessible learning environment.

On the occasion, the DC reviewed the progress of the ongoing construction works and took stock of various components of the project being undertaken for the welfare and educational advancement of enrolled specially-abled students.

The DC was informed that over 60 percent of the construction work has been completed on the project comprising modern classrooms, Principal’s Office, Staff Room, Indoor Games Court, Gymnasium, Medical Room, Therapy Room, Washroom Blocks, Computer Lab, Library, Dormitory and Dining Hall, among other essential facilities.

Expressing satisfaction over the pace of progress, the Deputy Commissioner directed the R&B Engineers to further expedite the pace of work and ensure timely completion of the project by March 2027, while maintaining strict adherence to prescribed quality standards, so that the students and staff of Abhinandan Home can benefit from the upgraded infrastructure at the earliest.

During the visit, the Deputy Commissioner also handed over a dedicated special school bus for the students of Abhinandan Home to facilitate their transportation and ensure safe, comfortable and convenient commuting for children with special needs. While interacting with the Students and Staff of Abhinandan Home, the DC assured them of continued support and assistance from the District Administration towards the overall development, welfare and educational empowerment of the children.

The DC also reiterated the District Administration’s commitment to exploring avenues for expanding educational opportunities for specially-abled students, including access to higher education, introduction of vocational training and skill development programmes and offering trade diploma courses through Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs), with a view to strengthening the educational and skill development framework and creating better avenues for self-reliance and employment for children with special needs.

During the visit, the DC was accompanied by Additional Deputy Commissioner, Mir Imtiyaz Ul Aziz, Additional Deputy Commissioner, Aadil Fareed, IAS Probationer, Aakash Garg, Chief Planning Officer, Fayaz Ahmad Dar, Assistant Commissioner Revenue, Umar Gulzar, Chief Education Officer, Assistant Commissioner Revenue, Ghulam Mohi Ud Din, District Social Welfare Officer, Dr Mukhtar Ahmad, Executive Engineer R&B Khalid Mehmood, Executive Engineer Water Works, Aijaz Rafiq, Executive Engineer KPDCl, Tehsildar South, Sajad Rasool Shah, Coordinator Abhinandan Home, Nilofar Sultan, Principal, Mudasir Ahmad and other concerned.