By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Nov 14: Governor Chandrashekhar H. Vijayashankar has directed the Social Welfare Department to prepare an exhaustive record of visually impaired children in Meghalaya—those born without sight as well as those who lost their sight later in life—to enable the state to chart out appropriate interventions.
Speaking at a Children’s Day programme at Raj Bhavan that brought together children with special abilities, the Governor said many youngsters who became visually impaired due to illness or accidents might still have a chance of recovering their sight with timely medical care and donor’s support.
He noted that certain hospitals, especially in Kerala, are equipped to treat children below 14 years and are known for specialised Ayurvedic eye therapies.
For children who are partially blind, he said a structured 15-day treatment regimen could lead to significant improvement when followed properly.
The Governor added that the state would request these hospitals to accept Meghalaya’s children in batches to facilitate their treatment.
Accompanied by his wife, Vijayashankar greeted the children present at the event and spoke of the importance of commemorating the day with students living with various physical challenges. He described the gathering as a meaningful occasion for Raj Bhavan, which was able to host children with diverse needs.
Reiterating the government’s commitment to supporting children with disabilities, he urged the Social Welfare Department to identify and hone the abilities of these youngsters, observing that many have the potential to excel in fields such as music, swimming and singing if guided well.
The programme featured performances by the GTC band, students of Jyoti School and two specially-able young performers from ASHA School, Shillong.
