BENGALURU: The 11th edition of the ‘ANZ Samarthanam Walkathon 2015 - a walk to enable accessibility’, organised by Samarthanam Trust for the Disabled, was held on Saturday.
The event saw the launch and distribution of ‘Ausion’, which is an electronic mobility and travel aid device for the visually impaired. Ausion enables people with severe visual disabilities to go about their works with least assistance. It was launched by State Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy, Jayanagar MLA Vijayakumar and Tsutomu Murata, MD of Yokogawa India Ltd.
The official release said, “The prime focus of the walkathon this year was on raising awareness about accessibility issues faced by the disabled and integrating their special needs into urban planning and infrastructure facilities. Funds raised through this event will be used to build a disabled-friendly school in HSR Layout which will benefit 700 children. The school is expected to be operational by November 2016.”Mahantesh, Founder Managing Trustee, of Samarthanam said, “The walkathon is a great platform where people from all walks come together. By walking together, they show their solidarity, care and love for people with disabilities. Samarthanam believes in inclusivity and through the walkathon we showcase the same.”
The event was preceded by a cultural programme featuring performances by visually impaired artistes from Samarthanam.