Daijiworld Media Network—Mangalore (RD/CN)

Mangalore, Sep 3: The state-level folk dance contests for mentally challenged students will be held at Town Hall, on Monday September 15, and Tuesday September 16, under the aegis of Saanidhya residential school for the mentally challenged, managed by Ganesh Seva Trust.

The chief objective of the programme will be to integrate these special children with  mainstream society, by providing them a platform to showcase their distinct cultural talents.  The programme is being held in memory of Krishna Kumar, the late vice-president of the trust, informed Mahabala Marla, president, and Vasant Kumar Shetty, honorary secretary, at a press conference here recently.

Invitations have been dispatched to over 125 special schools across Karnataka and the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) has been requested to issue free tickets to special students and those accompanying them from various districts across the state. Competitors arriving from other districts will be accommodated at Sanghaniketan,  Mannagudda, they said.

The trust has also sought generous contributions from philanthropists to stage these competitions which are estimated to cost around Rs 3.8 lac. There will be a first prize, a second prize, and a third prize, as well as five consolation prizes. Jagdish Shetty, treasurer,   Ganesh Seva Trust, and B Nandakumar, director of the trust, were present at the press conference.