Date:26/12/2005 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2005/12/26/stories/2005122600620200.htm

Karnataka - Belgaum

Six visually impaired persons enter wedlock

Staff Correspondent

Belgaum: Except themselves, many watched the six visibly impaired youths entering into wedlock and becoming life partners on Sunday, thanks to Spoorti, a Belgaum-based non-governmental organisation working for the welfare of the blind.

The marriage was organised by Spoorti, run by a former Belgaum Urban Development Authority Chairman and Youth Congress leader, Anil Potdar, and a social activist, Usha Potdar, at Padmanand Kalyan Mantap in Sirigalli. More than 500 people, including relatives of the brides and bridegrooms, attended the ceremony.

Arun Kumar, 30, resident of Sira in Tumkur district and a graduate in Arts, married Shailaja of the same age. She is from Sorab in Shimoga district. Arun Kumar is working in a call centre in Bangalore, while Shailaja, who is a Commerce graduate and studied law as well, is employed in the Department of Posts in Sira.

The 28-year-old Baswaraj Golwattagi of Hubli was married to 27-year-old Vani of Navanagar locality in the same city. Baswaraj could not continue his studies beyond SSLC as his parents asked him to take up carpentry, while Vani, who has a blurred vision of close objects, has no parents. She was brought up by her elder sister. It is said that Baswaraj's parents were against their son's marriage as they felt that it would only harm their second son's share in property. But a local organisation introduced Baswaraj to Vani and sought the assistance of Spoorti in getting them married.

The third couple which got married today was Ramesh V., 26 of Kolar district, a final year BA student who is working in a mushroom development agency in Channapatna and Muniratna, 26, of Bangalore. She is a student of postgraduation in Sociology in Bangalore University.

Spoorti arranged for mangalasutras, clothes for the couples and a feast for their relatives and others.