Delhi aspires to be a caring city for differently-abled: Sheila Dikshit

NEW DELHI: Majority of autistic people in India have not been diagnosed and do not receive the services they need, but Delhi is aspiring to become a caring city, Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit said today.

She said the city government is aspiring to make Delhi a caring city for one and all, especially for the elderly and differently-abled.

"It is estimated that there are 1.7 million autistic persons in the country. However, the majority of autistic people in India have not been diagnosed and don't receive the services they need," she said, flagging of the Autism Awareness Walk 2013 organised at India Gate by an NGO, Attachavi Foundation.

"Delhi Government was committed to making the city disabled-friendly which include creation of adequate support infrastructure in public transport, buildings of public importance, offices, schools, colleges," she said.

The CM lamented that even if a child is diagnosed correctly there were very few resources at the parents' disposal.

"Most schools are not equipped to handle autistic children. The problem of education of autistic children is quite complex," she said.

The Chief Minister also said that Social Welfare Department has been regularly striving for the welfare of differently-abled persons by organising regular disability camps at their door-steps to provide them all possible benefits under one roof, involving various government and non-government organisations.

She said, in these regular camps, services like disability certificates, identity cards, DTC bus passes, railway concession certificates, various aids and appliances as well as information regarding various schemes of Delhi Government and Central Government are provided.