Bhubaneswar: Odisha minister Ashoka Chandra Panda on Sunday called for awareness and effective steps to enable the people with autism to join the mainstream of the society.
He was speaking at a function, organised by Social Security and Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities department, in Bhubaneswar on the occasion of the World Autism Awareness Day.
Stating that the day offered an opportunity the concerned people to raise their voice in support of persons with autism, the minister said, “Early diagnosis and interventions can lead to improved outcomes for the persons with autism.”
Panda also flagged off a rally that started from Ram Mandir square and culminated at the Capital High School. Students from special schools and State Institute of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (SIEP) along with volunteers, teachers and guardians participated in the rally.
MLA Ananta Narayan Jena, Bhubaneswar mayor Sulochana Das and secretary, SSEPD department Bhaskar Sarma were also present.
To mark the day, Lok Seva Bhawan and SIEP buildings were decorated with blue colour as part of ‘Light it up Blue’ campaign in the evening. A cultural programme by the persons with autism was also held in Ekamra Haat.
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