Karnataka   

‘Reach aid to all physically challenged’

SUNTICOPPA (KODAGU): Minister for Youth Services and Sports Goolihatti D. Shekar on Friday said that assistance should be given to physically-challenged persons in all parts of the State to enable them to lead a good life.

He was addressing a gathering here after inaugurating a function to mark distribution of hearing aids, wheelchairs, tricycles, callipers, crutches and walking sticks to 50 such persons. Dr. Zakir Husain Memorial Trust and Praxy Fernandes Memorial Trust, in association with the Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, organised the programme.

Coffee planters Vinod Shivappa, Anand Basappa and Nandini Basappa were instrumental in bringing the camp from Uttar Pradesh to this remote town in Kodagu. A camp to select the beneficiaries was held here in April last. Mr. Shekar lauded the services of the two trusts and the individuals who had identified a small hobli such as Sunticoppa to provide help and assistance to the needy. He would extend all help if such a camp was held in his native district of Chitradurga.

Louise Khurshid, Project Director, Dr. Zakir Husain Memorial Trust, who presided over the function, said that the trust, which had confined its activities to Uttar Pradesh, was now extending them to other parts of the country. Thanks to Mr. Shivappa and Mr. Basappa, she was able to identify Sunticoppa as the centre in Kodagu. She appealed to the Minister to sanction funds to start manufacturing equipment such as artificial limbs and callipers in Kodagu itself.

Ms. Khurshid suggested to the State Government to organise “Special Olympics” in the State. The next camp by the trust would be held either in Madikeri or Somwarpet, she said.

Annabelle Manwaring, vice-chairperson of Praxy Fernandes Memorial Trust, spoke about the objectives of the trust and said a continuous contact would be maintained with persons who had received assistance.

Mr. Shivappa, who lauded the trusts for organising the camp in Sunticoppa, said Kodagu lagged behind in many spheres in spite of being one of the highest revenue paying districts in the State. Distribution of aids would help hundreds of physically challenged people in the district, he added.

Commissioner for Youth Service and Sports Amar Kumar Pande said that World Wheelchair Sports Competitions would be held in Bangalore in December next. The Department of Youth Services and Sports (DYSS) had always helped differently-abled persons in sports and games.

Zilla Panchayat member Lokesh Kumar, who coordinated efforts at the local level to organise the camp, spoke. Mr. Basappa felicitated Mr. Shekar, while Mr. Shivappa honoured Mr. Pande.

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