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Home for mentally challenged children to get new building next year

PUDUCHERRY: Welfare Minister M. Kandasamy on Thursday said a new building would be constructed for the Home for Mentally Retarded Children in the forthcoming year.

Addressing a gathering at the 11th Annual Day celebrations of the home, he said the government would take measures to construct a building and provide good environment with plenty of greenery. At present, the home was functioning at Rainbow Nagar.

“We will identify a suitable site for the home and lay the foundation. The construction works will begin soon,” he said.

The bread and milk scheme would be implemented for the mentally and physically challenged children and persons next month. The department would register a co-operative society to implement the scheme, he said.

Non-governmental organisations that were obtaining funds for various schemes of the Social Welfare Department should utilise the funds for appropriate purposes.

Only 25 per cent of the funds obtained by the NGOs from the Social Welfare Board were properly utilised for the schemes, Mr. Kandasamy said.

“The NGOs should spend the funds for appropriate schemes and the benefits should reach the poor. There are various areas in which funds have not been given appropriately. The department should monitor the fund utilisation,” he said.

The department was discussing the possibilities of obtaining financial support from foreign countries, he added.

Member of Legislative Assembly R. Viswanathan said handicraft items made by mentally challenged children and physically challenged persons could be exported to foreign countries to provide opportunities for the children and their parents.

Prizes were distributed to the winners of various competitions held as part of the celebrations. The children also staged cultural programmes.

Director of the Welfare Department P. Priyatarshny, Chairman of Oulgaret Municipality N.S.J. Jayabal and municipal councillor N. Kaliaperumal spoke.

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