The government will take initiatives to bring children afflicted with autism to the mainstream, Health Minister Adoor Prakash has said.
Mr. Prakash was inaugurating the District Child Development Training Centre, ‘Santwanom', of the district panchayat, at the Government Vocational Higher Secondary School at Vadakkadathukavu, near Adoor, on Monday.
“It is estimated that India has two million autistic persons and many of them do not get the services they need,” he said, adding that accurate diagnosis was one of the major problems faced by parents of autistic children. The government would strive to address the problems faced by the children and their parents, Mr. Prakash said.
The Minister said it was for the first time in the State that such a child development training centre was being set up under the auspices of the district panchayat. The centre would bring solace to a large number of children and their parents, he added.
Chittayam Gopakumar, MLA, presided over the inaugural function. The MLA also inaugurated distribution of hearing aids to children on the occasion.
Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan State programme officer Ahamedkutty delivered the keynote address. Pazhakulam Madhu, district panchayat standing committee (education) chairman; Sobhana Kunjukunju, Aerath grama panchayat president; T.D. Saji, vice-president; and P.S. Sumadevi Amma, school headmistress, spoke.
