Begging: Association recommends provision of `white cane’ to blind persons
NAN-HG-6
Begging
Bauchi, Nov. 11, 2016 (NAN) The Nigeria Association of the Blind, Bauchi State Chapter, has called on local government councils to procure and distribute white cane to blind persons in order to reduce street begging.
The state Chairman of the association, Malam Haruna Pali, made the appeal on Friday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Bauchi.
Pali described the white cane as the foresight of a blind person, adding that it has become costly in the market due to instability of dollar currency in the world market.
According to him, the white cane also helps the blind in his educational, economic and religious pursuits.
“I assure you with many of us having in their possession the white cane street begging will reduce.
“The local government especially should please procure and distribute the white cane to our members because it would lead us to gaining lots in human endeavours.
“The white cane presently is about N10,000 of which a blind man cannot afford, just like healthy human beings sees through their eyes, so is the blind person with his white cane.
“The white cane is the guide of any blind person not someone that holds his hand and serves like a guide.
“It leads the blind to carry out economic, social and religious educational pursuits.
“Is better we get the white cane than the two the few bags of grains we are receiving from the government,” he said.
The chairman said that members of the association would showcase their ability in disability to the people of the state on Nov. 15, when they celebrate the International World Cane Day in Bauchi. (NAN)
AE/MST
Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola