IMPHAL, March 28: Institution and financial support, as well as providing various facilities to mentally retarded persons is essential to uplift their conditions, said by RK Anand Singh, MLA, who was chief guest at the inaugural function of two days Regional Parents Meet 2014-15 under theme `Towards self Advocacy and Decision Making` at BB Paul Mental Development Home, Mongshangei.
The meet was organized by PARIVAAR, National Confederation of Parents Organisation for Persons with Intellectual, and Development Disabilities under the sponsorship The National Institute for the Mentally Handicapped (NIMH), and hosted by the Parents Association for Differently Abled and All Manipur Mentally Handicapped Persons Welfare Organisation.
RK Anand further said the government should give more attention to the various challenges and problems were faced by the mentally retarded peoples and their parents in our societies and entire Northeast.
He also said that their welfare policy should also be meant to their empowerment. This can begin with quota in government benefits, as well as giving them a representative in the Parliament and in the State Assembly.
In the opening function, president Parivaar Lt. Colonel Dr VK Gautam, Immediate Past President, Parivaar Ajin Kumar Sen, Retired Professor Dr S Ingotombi (Ringo) Singh attended as president and guests of honour respectively however. President Parents Association for Differently Abled M Ashwini Kumar and President All Manipur Mentally Handicapped Persons Welfare Organisation Pramo Shija attended as presidium member.
In the discussion sessions on the Need for building Parents Networks at Grassroots to ensure rights of PwlDDs, Dr VK Gautam, Skill Development and vocational Training for PwlDDs presenting by Sengupta and Why Self Advocacy presenting by Saira Rehaman, Director Prerona, spoke.
As part of the function various cultural programmes by delegates from Assam, Nagaland, Meghalaya, NIMH members and Parivaar Members were also staged.