Mumbai rains: Even amid deluge, teachers ensure blind students don’t miss a day

Trupti Patil braved rains to reach her students in Dahisar and Kandivli

Despite heavy rain spells that left parts of Mumbai submerged, the spirit of educators remained unshaken. On Tuesday, even as red alert was sounded across the city, eight teachers from the National Association for the Blind (NAB), waded through flooded streets to keep up with their visits, assisting students with visual impairment and multiple disabilities.

NAB's Programme Coordinator, Ujwala Bhanushali, visited students in Manvelpada, Phoolpada, and other locations in Virar. "Autos can only take you so far. This morning I walked through knee-deep water, dodged potholes, and still made it for my home visits," said Bhanushali, who met three visually impaired students that day. "Learning in centres and home visits are part of our regular programme. Since the centres are shut due to the rains, it becomes even more important to make the most of these visits," she added.

NAB's Programme Coordinator, Ujwala Bhanushali, wades through flooded Virar streets to reach her visually impaired students

NAB teachers support disabled students enrolled in mainstream schools but in need of special education. During home visits, they teach braille, Activities of Daily Living (ADL), indoor and outdoor mobility, along with science practicals, mathematics, and physical education. On Monday, while NAB centres functioned in the first half of the day, parents were called in early to pick up their children as the rain intensified. On Tuesday, though the centres remained shut, teachers stuck to their schedules.

After taking the Flying Ranee train from Dahanu on Tuesday, NAB teacher Trupti Patil travelled to meet her students in Dahisar and Kandivli. Patil, who teaches younger students from Nursery to Std IV, visited a student with impaired vision, a learning disability, and underdeveloped motor skills. "The teacher's visit is the only day my sister is proactive and participates in activities," said the student's sister. "That's why these sessions are so important for us."

BMC staff distributed food packets and other snacks to stranded train commuters. Pics/By Special Arrangement

On the Central line, where train services were eventually suspended, Dombivli resident Ujwala Paralkar still set out to teach her students. She usually mentors multi-handicap students around Badlapur and Titwala but due to travel restrictions, managed to reach a 13-year-old student in Kalyan on Wednesday. "It's disheartening not to show up when a student is waiting. Especially for those with intellectual disabilities, it's hard to explain sudden cancellations. If we don't come, they keep asking their parents about us all day," said Paralkar, who braved the disrupted commute. On Tuesday alone, despite torrential rains, eight NAB teachers travelled from Virar, Dahanu, Dombivli, Govandi, Vashi, Badlapur, and other locations to keep their promise to their students.

NAB's Jogeshwari Hostel turns into shelter

Acupuncture specialist Rajesh Ubale found himself stranded at the Jogeshwari station on Sunday. Ubale, who travels weekly from Aurangabad to Mumbai, was spotted by NAB Assistant Director Mayank Shekhar, who invited him to take shelter at the NAB hostel. Ubale, has since stayed there. His wife, a handicapped cancer survivor, and brother, sister-in-law, both visually impaired, live with him in Aurangabad. Ubale travels between Aurangabad, Matheran, and Mumbai for his massage clients.