Mangaluru: A unique service project by Shree Ganesha Seva Trust ‘Saanidhya Centre for Autism’ will be inaugurated here on Wednesday January 5 at 11.00 am.
Vittaldas Thanthri from Shree Kshetra Kadri will light the lamp.
Dr. Kumar IAS, Chief Executive Officer of Dakshina Kannada Zilla Panchayat will inaugurate the centre. Shree Ganesha Seva Trust President Mahabala Marla will preside over the function. Shree Ganesha Seva Trust Advisor Shalini Pandith will be the guest of honour for the event.
Speaking to News Karnataka Dr. Vasanth Kumar Shetty said, “Initial plans of the project have already been started especially for our 32 children/students who are there with us for 4 to 35 years.”
He further explained that the government need to address this issue seriously. “There are only a few special schools, centres, and child schemes. However, the child centre scheme specifies that one instructor should be assigned to every two kids in a 2:1 ratio. Where will we find a teacher? None of the youngsters are going for this training. In addition, they are also underpaid,” said Shetty.
Autism is now a major issue across the world. However, the progress is minimal. There are Acts in place for these children, but they remain only on paper, he claimed.
“According to the Child Centre scheme for specially-abled children, after 25 year, none of these children are kept in the institution. Whose responsibility is it after 25 years? What if a 30-year-old behaves like a child? So, we should not continue to make it up to barcodes,” he said.
