A Panel Conversation & Interactive Session on Autism Awareness–Fight Discrimination Through Inclusion held at MCCI

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Merchants Chamber of Commerce & Industry & MCCI Ladies Forum and Presidency Alumni Association Calcutta in association with Shumpun Foundation organised a Panel Conversation & Interactive Session on “Autism Awareness – Fight Discrimination through Inclusion” to mark the occasion of World Autism Awareness Day on 1 April 2023 at MCCI.

The Chief Guest of the Session was Smt Sanghamitra Ghosh, IAS, Principal Secretary, Women & Child Development and Social Welfare Department, Government of West Bengal.

On January 20, 2023, MCCI signed a pledge with the Presidency Alumni Association Calcutta to spread awareness and community understanding about Autism and promote acceptance of autism spectrum disorderin our community. MCCI along with Presidency Alumni Association Calcutta and Shumpun Foundation will work on this project throughout the year.

Smt Sanghamitra Ghosh in her address said that the Department of Child Development and Social Welfare of Govt. of West Bengal has taken the initiative to provide certification through UDID to identify the degree of disability. However, the process of getting the disability certification is very complicated and the department has been working on the process of its simplification.

In the context of the early childhood care initiative, Smt Ghosh informed that through Anganwadi Centres, the department has taken care of almost 1 lakh 20 thousand children on a daily basis. The Anganwadi centres take care of the physical and mental health of the children. Smt Ghosh stated that autism can be diagnosed during the first 18 months of a child’s life and that early treatment can reduce the severity of the disorder. The Anganwadi centres have a validated testing tool, and if any child can score below the average, he or she has received special care for this. 

Smt. Ghosh pointed out that the main challenge faced by children with autism in marginal segments of society is the lack of availability of effective resource persons and care givers for them. District Early Intervention Centre (DEIC) provides continuous therapy to children who are suffering from disabilities like autism. There are 24 DEICs in West Bengal. District Early Intervention Services (DEIS) needs support from corporates to operate these services for those specially-abled children. Smt. Ghosh also requested that private hospitals initiate intervention centres to help these children.

Smt Madhumita Dasgupta, Education Co-ordinator &Inclusion Facilitator, Indian Institute of Cerebral Palsy, Member, Presidency Alumni Association Calcutta,Smt Seema Sapru, Principal, The Heritage School and Shri Sanjoy Banerjee, Managing Director, PWC India, Head Global Delivery Centre CSR Leader, Eastwere the panellists of the Session and shared their views and perspectives.

In his welcome address, Shri Namit Bajoria, President, MCCI said that there is a need to raise public awareness about the world’s third most common developmental disability, a neurological illness that has affected around 18 million people.Data shows that the number of children diagnosed with Autism in India is increasing.Autistic children should be mainstreamed also. For this, mainstream education settings should ensure that the needs of all students are addressed and that all barriers which can potentially hinder their participation be removed.

Shri Sutirtha Bhattacharya, IAS (Retd.), President, Presidency Alumni Association Calcutta in his opening remarks, said that to fight against discrimination, society needs inclusion. To encourage awareness of autism, Presidency Alumni Association has joined hands with MCCI.

The Session concluded with a hearty Vote of Thanks proposed by Smt Nita Bajoria, Chairperson, MCCI Ladies Forum.

(This story has not been edited by News Mania staff and is published from a Media Release)