The Vocational Rehabilitation Centre for Handicapped (VRCH) and State branch of National Association for the Blind (NAB) jointly organised first ever 1st round of State level Miss India contest for the blind on Sunday.
During the programme, out of 56 participants from Odisha, 25 were found eligible in the age group of 18-30 years. Out of 25 girls, 14 were selected in the 1st round. Two totally blind and two partially blind girls will be selected in the second round event to be held on August 28.
The shortlisted four girls will be sent for first round of contest to be held in Mumbai along with nominated participants from other States in the month of September and during the event, distinguished judges will shortlist 12 girls. The top 12 finalists will again be invited to Mumbai during October-November and will be imparted 15 days of training by a choreographer and also a personality development trainer. The final event will be held, where 12 girls will be put through a round of tests including question -answers, talent show, ramp walk and will be asked to present their ambition in life in the presence of celebrities and eminent citizen judges in January 2017.
During the event, Tulika Mohanty, Ananya Patnaik, Itishree Sahoo, and Pravati Mishra were the jury members and eminent social worker Namrata Chadda anchored.
Among others, DTET Director Balwant Singh, VRCH, Bhubaneswar Assistant Director Ram Kishor Sharma, National Association for the Blind State general secretary Ajay Samal were present.