The Hindu : Mental retardation not a disease: Expert

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Jun 23, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Karnataka

Mental retardation not a disease: Expert

By Our Staff Correspondent

TUMKUR JUNE 22. The National Trust Fund (NTF) set up by the Union Government for the welfare of mentally challenged children has an outlay of Rs. 100 crore, the psychiatrist and adviser to the trust, K.A.Ashok Pai, has said.

Speaking at a camp organised by Manasa -- a school for the mentally challenged -- at Bal Bhavan grounds on Mahatma Gandhi Road here on Sunday, Dr. Pai said that local committees could be formed in each district to avail funds from NTF.

Dr. Pai said that mental retardation was not a disease, and hence there was no need for any treatment.

Defective growth of the brain or damage to a part of the brain impeded the mental ability of a child, he said.

Dr. Pai said that his 15-year study revealed that there were three types of mental retardation - those on the "border line", moderate, and profound.

It had been proved that the brain, once dead, could not be regenerated or replanted, or reconstructed.

Therefore, the latest trend was to encourage mentally challenged children to join regular schools and learn amidst normal children. It would be a mutually rewarding experience to both, he said.

He expressed happiness that regular schools were now admitting mentally challenged children. Dr. Pai said that the Government had raised the sum being paid to each mentally challenged child for its education from Rs. 40 per month to Rs. 400.

The Rotary International organised camps to identify such children.

Pointing out that there was no dearth of funds for the welfare of mentally challenged children, Dr. Pai said that the NTF had launched many schemes. Details about them could be obtained from its office in New Delhi by paying Rs. 125. The NTF would provide up to Rs. 15 lakh for setting up a school for the mentally challenged, meet the maintenance costs, and reimburse the expenses on children.

He said that mentally challenged persons would be given a pension of Rs. 100 a month.

Dr. Pai said that except the Association of Parents of the Mentally Challenged Children, which was running a school since 1997, there was no activity towards the welfare of such children in the district.

The president of the association, C.L.Shivanna, said that the Tumkur District Local Committee of the NTF had been formed, but it had not met even once.

The officials concerned had ignored his pleas to organise meetings of the committee regularly, he said.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Southern States

Stories in this Section

BMTC cuts student bus pass rates

Rain havoc in Mangalore; 3 killed

Tusker tramples man to death

Govt. to monitor land sale in command areas

Heavy rain disrupts rail traffic

CET will go rural weightage way: AIPJD

Workshop on family businesses on Friday

Mental retardation not a disease: Expert

It may not be easy for Hindasgeri this time

There is still scope for merger, says Bommai