Minister K.T. Jaleel (L) listening to the mother of a special child. Photo: Rinku Raj MattancheriyilThiruvananthapuram: Heart-rending scenes were witnessed at the inaugural workshop held in connection with ‘Ardrakeralam’, a joint initiative of Malayala Manorama and UNICEF aimed at brightening up the future of children with brain and neurological conditions.
Local administration and minority affairs minister K.T. Jaleel, who inaugurated the event, could not hold back his tears when the mother of a child with cerebral palsy raised a question while narrating her moving tale.
After talking about the challenges of bringing up a child with special needs, she shared the greatest fear of many parents of such children: “Who will look after my kid when I’m no longer here?”
The mother's helplessness and the fear of an uncertain future moved the minister as well as many mothers among the audience to tears.
The minister listened to her grievances attentively and assured her that the government would take every possible step in extending a helping hand to the parents of special children.
He also promised that the government would consider setting up a care center for orphaned children with special needs.
“These parents deserve special honor and respect because they make lots of sacrifices to give their kids a better life,” he added.
