Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today gave in-principle approval to set up a state-of-the-art Advanced Research and Treatment Centre for the patients suffering from autism (A serious developmental disorder that impairs the ability to communicate and interact) at Mohali. A decision to this effect was taken by Mr. Badal while presiding over a meeting with a host of medical experts, doctors and the organizers of the NGOs dealing with such patients here at his official residence this evening.Taking part in the deliberations, Mr. Badal underscored the need to draw a time bound action plan to effectively tackle the incidence of autism in the state. He was apprised that on an average one person per 1000 was inflicted with autism in India where as the incidence of this disease in USA was 100 per 1000 as per study.Mr. Badal asked the GMADA authorities to earmark a suitable chunk of land for the upcoming Advanced Research and Treatment Centre for Autism at Mohali which would house Institute for running a diploma course for educators to impart special education to children suffering from autism besides providing research and health care facilities.
The Chief Minister desired that in the latest stage more satellite centres would be set up at the all district headquarters affiliated to this advanced centre to provide the best health care facilitates to the autism patients.Responding to another vital issue, the Chief Minister asked the health department to sensitize their disability medical boards at all district headquarters to issue disability certificate to the person suffering from autism, which were now facing acute hardship and passing through mental agony due to scant knowledge about it. Likewise, the Chief Minister also directed the health department to pro-actively take up the issue with the education department for giving admission to the children suffering from autism in the normal schools, as this step would not only inculcate a sense of equality, belongingness and self-respect but also save them from the scourge of discrimination and inferiority complex. It may be recalled that at present majority of such children were studying in special schools meant for autism patients.
The Chief Minister asked Dr. Ajit Awasthi, Professor & Head Department of Psychiatry, PGIMER to prepare a detailed blue print with in a month for the setting up of Advanced Centre besides suggesting ways and means to establish special wings of autism in all the Government Medical Colleges at Patiala, Amritsar and Faridkot with trained manpower comprising child psychologists, occupational therapists, clinical psychologists and special educators/motivators to provide the best treatment to the autism patients. Mr. Badal highly appreciated the role of Red Cross Society Faridkot for successfully running an education institute for imparting skill training and education to the patients suffering from autism and asked other Red Cross Societies to replicate this model.Prominent amongst others who were present in the meeting included Principal Secretary Health & Family Welfare Mrs. Vinni Mahajan, Secretary Medical Education & Research Mr. Husan Lal, Joint Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Mr. Kumar Amit, DRME Dr. Manjit Kaur Sohi, Dr. BS Chavan, Professor & Head Department of Psychiatry and Dr. Preeti Arun Reader Department of Psychiatry from Government Medical College & Hospital Sector 32, Chandigarh, Dr. Meenu Singh Department of Paediatrics PGIMER and Dr. BS Sidhu Head Department of Psychiatry Government Medical College & Hospital, Patiala.