Undeterred by their disabilities, over a hundred physically challenged children from across India will participate in a variety of activities Dec 18 at an adventure camp in the hills of northern West Bengal.
As many as 135 children from cities like Varanasi, New Delhi, Ranchi as well as Sikkim and other regions will experience nature at its best at the All-India Nature Study-cum-Adventure Camp in the sleepy hamlet of Mourey, in West Bengal's Darjeeling district.
"The children will come with their escorts and guides who are usually their teachers. We will give them an inspiring experience of nature through camping activities as per the full course. This is the 24th year of the special camp," said Shankar Majumdar, secretary of the Siliguri-based Himalayan Nature and Adventure Foundation (HNAF).
"The key point here is we will not marginalise them as challenged or disabled."
Nestled in the lush Himalayan forests, Mourey will host students of various special schools from India till Dec 23 as they indulge in birdwatching, exploring the jungles, taking a dip in the rivers, crawling and climbing over the ropes (rope plays), Majumdar said.
HNAF, which organises camps and activities in the region, was spurred to include children with disabilities and impairments with the encouragement of J.K. Sengupta of the Indian Army who was blinded in both eyes in the 1965 India-Pakistan war.
"Since then we have not looked back. The camp benefits the children in motivating them to perform better in school once they go back," he added.
Majumdar explained that due to monotony of the school routine over the years, these children show reluctance to cooperate with the teachers.
"They also need a lot of physical activities, else they will be crippled. So if you don't give them a special impetus, then they don't cooperate," he said.
Participating children will be provided with technical guides and equipment to assist in the activities.
"As many as 45 escorts will accompany the children and 40 people from our organisation will arrange the necessary arrangements like setting up the kitchens, toilets and camp tents as well as the supply of electricity, food and water. There will be participants from the local area as well," Majumdar said.
