The Punjab Governor and Administrator UT Chandigarh V. P. Singh Badnore today visited the Government Rehabilitation Institute for Intellectual Disabilities (GRIID especially the various sections including College, Clinic and Special School.While interacting with the doctors attending to the children with intellectual disabilities, the Governor said that Chandigarh should become the first disabled friendly city in India as it has the potential to come on world map. He also said that there should be an interactive programme with the countries already running such institutes so that better ideas could be exchanged. He also said that an international conference should be organised by GRIID where various stakeholders can come together to make Chandigarh the best city in the country in the field of disability.Mr. Badnore also interacted with the parents of the Children with intellectual disabilities. He asked the director to ensure safe hostel facilities to the children especially the girls within the official premises.Dr. Chavan informed the Governor that the GRIID was providing comprehensive training and education to the children.
Currently there are 430 children are enrolled for intellectual disabilities, cerebral palsy, down syndrome, autism and multiple disabilities. He also said that GRIID was also providing vocational training to as many as 106 children in different sections like book binding, paper recycling unit, cutting & tailoring, cooking & bakery, carpentry section, masala grinding and packing, caning of chairs, candle making and pottery section. Besides this the doctors are engaged in extensive research work early detection and prevention of disabilities could be assessed. He also informed the Governor that every year 30 students are enrolled for B.Ed and 30 for diploma courses while for the course of M.Ed 10 students are enrolled every year. This institute is the only institute in the region to start M.Ed (Mental Retardation) and is also planning to start diploma courses in autism and other programmes including Phd programmes, he added.Earlier, the Governor was greeted by the special children with rose bud and later sapling of Chandan was presented to him by the Joint Director, Prof. Priti Arun and Dr. Vani Ratnam.