Events

Chennai: Social Welfare Minister tips parents on child rearing

It was a small school with hardly 11 children. But, the Social Welfare Minister Dr. Poongothai was there to spend time at the annual day celebrations of Silver Beach Singaram Pillay Vidyalaya, a school for children with hearing impairment in the city on November 1. She also pointed out reasons for children being born disabled and tips to take care of them.

Dr Poongothai said, “It would be a shock when the parent is told that their child is disabled. There is lot of social stigma and bias. But change has to come from within.

Research has shown that disabled children who are raised with normal siblings tend to improve, she added. She urged the youngsters not to marry relatives, which was the cause for birth of disabled children.

A classroom in Singaram Pullay Matriculation Higher Secondary School was developed as an early intervention centre for hearing impaired children. Poongothai said that government will have early intervention centers in ten districts. “These facilities are not available in rural areas while 7 percent of the disabled persons are in villages, “she said.

Source: Minister’s tips to parents of disabled children. Indian Express, Daily, Chennai, 2 November 2006.

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Guwahati: A riot of colors

Trees were blue and the sky green, when more than 30 children with physical impairments took painting brushes in their hands. The colors of their imagination cut a perfect picture of their creativity.

The occasion was a painting competition for the physically challenged children, which was organized on October 28 was a part of annual function of a group of NGOs working for the physically-challenged children. Pragati, an umbrella organization of 12 such NGOs organized this competition to give flight to their imagination.

Children from many organizations like Monovikash Kendraa, Sishu Sarothi, Swavalambi, Atma Rehab and others let loose their hopes, aspirations, anxiety with vibrant colors on paper.

According to Dr. Sabina Ahmed of Assam Autism Foundation, “When these children unfurl their imagination, they go beyond the specific themes decided for them, only sky was the limit.” The competition was divided into two groups specifically, mentally challenged and the others. Many children, who find it difficult to relate or communicate their thoughts in words painted their world in color.
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The competition was judged by two artists Sarat Barua and Sangram Jyoti Chowdhari, who are hearing impaired themselves.

Source: Physically challenged children display riot of colours. The Sentinel, Daily, Guwahati, 28 October 2006.

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Kokarajhar: Seminar focuses on legal aid for disabled

With an aim of generating mass awareness campaign for extending legal aid to persons with mental and physical disabilities as one of the beneficiary groups for compulsory legal aid service, the Kokrajhar Law College, organized a seminar on Legal aid services.

LP Brahma, principal, Kokrajhar Law Collage and retired district and sessions judge in his speech as chairperson focused on the necessity of paying attention to the constraints faced by the persons with mental illness.

In the technical session of the programme PK Aditya, lecturer, Kokrajhar Law College dwelt at length on the provisions of Legal Service Authority Act 1987 with special reference to the provisions under Section 12 of this Act. Emphasis was also laid on Section 91 of the Mental Health Act 1987 to enlighten on the availability of legal aid to  mentally ill persons before the Court of the direct judge and magistrates as per statutory obligations of the authorities.

Source: Seminar stresses legal aid for disabled. Assam Tribune, Daily, Guwahati, 22 October 2006.

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