Chandigarh, September 10, 2018: The Governor of Punjab and Administrator UT, Chandigarh visited at Government Rehabilitation Institute for Intellectual Disabilities (GRIID), Sector-31, Chandigarh today. The Administrator was apprised of the problems being faced by the institute and he also interacted with parents.
The Administrator desired that we should invite the Ambassadors of disabled friendly countries and these ambassadors can also be requested to depute the field experts from their respective countries. Such Exchange program will help us to make the city Disabled friendly. These include Berlin – Germany, Barcelona- Spain, Ljubljana – Slovenia, Sydney – Australia and San Diego – USA.
Prof. B.S. Chavan, Director, GRIID informed the Administrator that the pace of construction for the remaining component of GRIID i.e. auditorium, vocational block and hostel for trainees and special children is very slow and many of them are yet to be started.
The Director, GRIID shared that around 150 children who are undergoing vocational training in the basement and are working in unhygienic and unhealthy condition due to limited ventilation and lot of humidity in the vocational centre. Further Governor interacted with the students who are pursuing teacher training courses in special education B.Ed M.Ed. &D.Ed. The Governor desired that there should be hostel facility as staying outside for girls is not safe. Later Governor visited the various sections of GRIID including College, Clinic and Special School. After visit, the Administrator interacted with a group of parents who specifically requested appointment and the parents highlighted the following issues with the Administrator UT, Chandigarh:
The parents were worried that what will happen after them as there is no facility for the persons with disabilities after 25 years in GRIID.
Majority of the special children coming to GRIID are from economically weaker section and they are getting difficulties in getting accommodation as their children may have behavioural problems of their children.
The UT Administrator desired that and international conference should be organised by GRIID where of the various stake holder can come together to make Chandigarh the best city in the country in the field of disability.
The Administrator asked the Director, GRIID to organise the meeting where all the difficulties and the vision to make the Chandigarh disabled friendly city in the country and bring it on the world Map can be discussed.