India has 8 million persons withautism and other development disorders

There are 8 million persons with autism and other development disorders in India. This calls for greater and more systematic approachon the issue. Smt. Sonia Gandhi, Chairperson, National Advisory Council said at New Delhi today.

Inaugurating the South Asian Autism Network Conference, Smt. Gandhi said mothers of children with autism and other development disorders suffer a lot by thinking about the future of their children. Because life-long afflicted children need life-long support. For this reason,weshouldcome forward and help them.The International Conference on Autism Spectrum Disorder and Developmental Disabilities held in July2011 at Dhaka is a momentous event in this regard. Thisconference has helped in focusing the attention of the region and world children with autism and other development disorders. Credit goes to H.E. Sheikh Hasina, Prime Minister of Bangladeshfor having organized the event.Credit also goes to Dr.SaimaHossain, at whose instance focused deliberations on this very important area were initiated.

In his welcome address, ShriGhulamNabi Azad, Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare said in Dhaka Declaration,we endorsed 9 priority actionsto realize our vision to meet healthcare needs of children with developmental disorders.Today we are meeting again to take forward this important public health initiative to safeguard against discrimination and social exclusion.He thanked the Government of Bangladesh for being the true spirit behind this regional co-operation. He also thanked “Autism Speaks” and “World Health Organization”, who have been the technical partners to this regional dialogue. He hoped that the outcome of the deliberations leading to the Delhi Declaration would be another historical guidepost in the long journey of meeting the unmet needs of children, families and communities suffering from Autism Spectrum Disorders.

Prof. SaimaWazedHossain, Chairperson, National Advisory Committee on Neuro Developmental Disorder and Autism; Ms Krishna Tirath, Minister of State (Independent Charge), Women and Child Development and MsSelja, Minister of State of Social Justice & Empowerment also addressed the inaugural session.