Mangalore: Genius - 2014, Round Table Quiz brings best talent of specially-abled Students

By Neil Rodrigues
Bellevision Media Network

Mangalore, 29 Jun 2014: This is a unique type of quiz that makes us think about the specially-abled. The members of Round Table Mangalore should be praised for introducing this concept that is possibly a first in the state or even further. I have advised them to follow-up on a medical camp that can be done and followed up by a grant by the government to reduce the cost of a cochlear implant to the students. Currently the price of an implant is around Rs 12 lac. We have managed to reduce this burden to approximately Rs 5 lac,’ said the state health and family welfare minister U T Khader.
 
The minister U T Khader was speaking after inaugurating Genius – 2014, Round Table Quiz competition jointly organized by Mangalore Coastal Round Table (MCRT) 190 and Mangalore Ladies Circle for differently-abled students of schools at Canara Girls’ High School, Dongarakeri here on Saturday June 28.
 
A J Hospital ENT senior resident Dr Vishwas K Pai who is also the president of the Mangalore Quizzing Foundation was the quiz master. With his unique style and assisted by his wife Mrs Vatika Pai and other volunteers from the quizzing foundation, they managed to keep the children and the audience engaged and enthralled through the quiz.
 
The participants from the visually impaired category were from the Roman and Catherine school for the visually challenged. The participants from the hearing and speech impaired category were from the SDM Mangalajyothi Institute, Vamanjoor whose administrative officer Ganesh Bhat was present.
 
Speaking on the occasion, MCRT 190 chairman Neil Rodrigues said, ‘We are truly proud to have met our objective of proving that specially abled children can perform equally well as all others provided the environment is inclusive.’
 
 
Mangalore Ladies Circle 82 chairperson Sharon Pinto said, ‘The cohesion between the team struck us as something remarkable. We were moved when the children started interacting and moving around together so freely with each other.’

 

 
 
Dr Vishwas Pai said, ‘When I was first approached by Round Table I was truly moved by the concept and equally excited to try it out. The joy and satisfaction from this event was amazing. I am very happy with that.’
 
 
Mangalore Coastal Round Table 190 and Mangalore Ladies Circle 82 crowned a team of 5 high school students as Genius - 2014. What was truly remarkable about this honor was that the five children had a mix of specially-abled (speech & hearing challenged, visually challenged), Kannada medium and English medium students.
 
 
The quiz was conducted in two rounds (semi-finals and finals) with each having 5 types of question formats. With 10 teams in total and 5 children in a team, there were a total of 50 participants. These comprised 20 children from private schools, 10 children from government (public schools), 10 children from SDM Mangala Jyoti Institute, Vamanjoor (speech and hearing challenged category) and 10 children from Roman and Catherine School for the Visually Challenged (visually challenged category).
 
 
The quiz saw a great deal of activity from the students who immediately managed to pick up the format and also overcome their hesitation of dealing with people who are abled differently than themselves. It was everyone’s observation that this format of a mixed team greatly improved their sensitivity and understanding of natural barriers. There was no better way than this quiz, to prove the point that specially-abled children can and will contribute equally to every facet of life provided the environment is inclusive, supportive and friendly. Mangalore Coastal Round Table 190 and Mangalore Ladies Circle 82 are strongly committed to this objective and this was one of the key reasons for the introduction of this concept. Also, there was no better time to achieve this than the commemoration of Helen Keller’s day on June 27.
 
 
The winning team was given prizes in the form of trophies, certificates and gifts worth Rs 10,000. The runners up won trophies, certificates and also gifts with Rs 5,000. All participants were handed certificates of appreciation for their participation.