Savangadi has already been helping patients and the physically disabled in many ways.
Savita Khandare, a 21-year-old visually impaired woman from Gunde Vasti, Bavdhan, was taken by surprise while crossing the road, when a member of Savangadi senior citizens' group from Kothrud approached her and offered to gift her a white cane.
Now, she moves around on her own with the help of the cane.
Thanks to 'Honour the White Cane' project undertaken by the senior citizens' group. Savangadi has already been helping patients and the physically disabled in many ways. They recently started the new project for the visually impaired. They have created a white cane bank to donate canes to individuals or organisations for the visually impaired.
Convenor of the group, Ramesh Tavade, initiated the project. Along with some of his friends he bought white canes and helped over 45 people in Pune.
"We wish to take it forward and therefore all of us have made a bank of white canes. Visually impaired individuals or organisations working for these people can benefit from it," said founder of the group, Prabhakar Jawadekar.
Many visually impaired people from economically weaker sections or rural areas go on with their lives without white canes. Many visually impaired students too cannot afford to buy these canes or do not know where to get it, said Jawadekar.
"We, therefore, thought of starting this project. Sunita had to take the help of her 11-year-old brother for going anywhere she wanted. She lives in a slum and could not afford the white cane. There are many people like her and we wish to reach out to them," he added. Donors can also donate canes to the group to help the needy. The group is also keeping a record of the cane bank.
"We have an updated record of who gave the canes and to whom. We put the name of the donor on the canes," he said.
The group has collected canes of various sizes considering children, young people as well as senior citizens among the visually impaired. Canes according to their needs are available.
The projects are completely managed and executed by senior citizens.
The group also aims to put sensors on the white canes.
"This will be more helpful as it will enable the user to 'sense' what is there in the way," said Jawadekar.
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