CM announces Rs 20 cr for project Shravan for deaf-free Assam

By Our Staff Reporter

Guwahati, Feb 14: Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi today announced Rs 20 crore for project ‘Shravan’ launched by Prera for a deaf-free Assam.

Speaking as chief guest at a function organised by Prera at Srimanta Sankaradeva Auditorium at Panjabari today, Gogoi said that the project for the hearing impaired children would go a long way in making the State deaf-free. "Like Operation Smile launched successfully for cleft-free Assam, project Shravan would also bring about a deaf-free State in the days ahead," he said.

Lauding the philanthropic activities of Prera, a charitable organisation formed by wives of retired and serving IAS officers, Gogoi said reaching out to the poor, disadvantaged and margilised segments of the society and making their lives better is a most wonderful way of expressing our love, care and affection for them. "Each and every individual must strive forward to extend a helping hand to the disadvantaged and margilised sections and make them feel special by spreading love, care and affection. And what better occasion it could be as it coincides with Valentine's Day today," he said.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr. reshwar Sinha, Director, Ideal Charity, a UK based NGO for impaired children, said it has been a wonderful experience to work in partnership with Prera and NRHM, Assam to bring smiles on the faces of impaired children of Assam. "Serving children with disabilities is something that goes straight to my heart. I hope the project with the blessings of the Chief Minister can be replicated throughout the State in the coming days," he said.

Dr. Sinha said the expensive hearing aids provided by his organisation free of cost has been individualized, catering to the specific needs of the hearing impaired children. "With the hearing aid that adapts to sounds at different frequencies, the disability in children goes low and low. Now the hard work is to assimilate the sounds with speech therapy," he added.

Earlier, in her welcome address, Prera president Suman Pipersenia said Shravan is the first major project taken up by the organisation in association with NRHM, Assam and Ideal Charity. Pipersenia said Prera with the help of Social Welfare Department and NRHM, Assam identified 160 children afflicted with hearing problem. "Out of the 160, 40 children were discharged after minor treatment. The rest went through advanced procedure of treatment at Mohendra Mohan Civil Hospital and were restored hearing through aids provided by Ideal Charity," she said.