Baramulla, Nov 20 (KNS): A high level parent awareness workshop for two days was organised by Humanity Welfare Organisation Helpline in collaboration with PARIVAAR- a National Confederation of Parents Organization aimed at securing rights of persons with intellectual disability all over the country.
The programme was sponsored by National Institute for empowerment of persons with intellectual disabilities (NIEPID) Secunderabad. Programme was inaugurated at Thimaya hall, Baramulla, by Javed Ahmad Tak chairman Humanity Welfare Organisation HELPLINE in presence of Javed Ahmad Beigh, MLA Baramulla, Shrirang Bijur, President Parivaar, NCPO, Dr Ganesh, Principal NIEPID.
In his welcome address, the organiser of programme Javed Ahmad Tak said that it is the disability in common man for not knowing aspirations and thoughts of mentally disabled persons. Although all of us are proud for having healthy brain but we are helpless to educate the children with mental disabilities, Tak added.
Welcoming all the guests Javed Tak gave special welcome to all participant specially parents and their children.
Dr Ganesh Sheregar of NIEPID gave detailed introduction about the National institute for empowerment of persons with intellectual disabilities. He narrated policy programmes and benefits devised for intellectual disabled persons with special reference to their special education and inclusion.
Shrirang Bijur who himself is a parent introduced Parivaar as confederation of 250 organizations started by Parents of persons with intellectual (Autism, Cerebal Palsy and MD) and HWOHL as the partner organisation in J&K. He indicated that the aim of the workshop is to make parents in Baramulla aware about rights and requirements of their disabled children. He further emphasised need to raise parent organization in Baramulla district to set up facilities for their children with the help of government.
He gave detailed knowledge about working of PARIVAAR the parent association spread all over India with head office at Pune. He emphasized on rights rather than charities for the children with intellectual disabilities. He promised full support for the parents association if estabilished in Baramullah. In addition Bijur said that if five mothers of children with mental disabilities unite to establish a special school in Baramulla, PARIVAAR will provide capacity building training to such mothers and will provide monthly support of 1000 rupees per child subjected to the punctuality and regularity of the student.
Beigh made whole audience emotional while declaring himself as parent of a mental disable girl child. He stressed on state government not to neglect the children with disabilities but to empower them completely as a healthy vote bank. All the deviated population like youth indulged in drug addiction and flesh trade are rehabilitated but the real needy who can be made productive are ignored without any plea other than social stigma, Beigh Added. He announced provision of land for establishing developmental centre for the children with disabilities along with expenses needed for it through his constituency development fund.
On the occasion 6 students with mental disabilities belonging to far flung areas were given learning kits containing various learning aids and teaching material about money, time, measuring, weighing, stitching and other livelihood generating material. The programme also included distribution of 106 kits on concluding session among students enrolled in different government schools of Baramulla and three special schools including Shafaqat Special School Srinagar, Life help special school Channapora Srinagar and Zaiba Aapa institute of inclusive education Bijbehara Kashmir.
There were 7 technical sessions conducted over two days that covered range of topics; Role of Parents, State govt and National schemes, Special education, Early intervention services, Awareness about learning kits for children, Social and education inclusion of children with disabilities. The local parents, specially the mothers, have got together to form a parent association to start a Special school for children with intellectual disability, in Baramulla. HWOHL Bijbehara, Parivaar and NEIPID has promised full support for their initiative in Baramulla with the help of MLA Baramulla. The program concluded with distribution of more learning kits to children and reiteration of support for parents’ project of Special school in Baramulla.
Amreen Bashir a local social worker promised for free facilitation for the establishing the special with local mothers of children with mental disabilities in the district. Hope Disability centre resource persons and Resource group of Education department under guidance of the chief Education officer Baramulla rendered services to the participants. Tariq Hussain Manhas was applauded and appreciated for collecting the children with mental disabilities of district Baramulla.
Childline Anantnag team member Imtiyaz Ahmad Kumar was declared as best volunteer. Coordinator of programme Adil Rashid Vaid alongwith Anil Kumar from NIEPD managed all registration services for all the participants. Sajad Ahmad gave vote of thanks. (KNS)