GUWAHATI, Aug 27 � Karunadhara, a privately-run trust set up for providing assistance to the suffering lot of the people, supplementing the Government efforts to wipe out their tears, has chalked out a comprehensive plan to assist those physically and mentally disabled persons who are devoid of any means to get medical treatment and to generate public awareness on matters related to the civil society�s role concerning these people.
The trust has by this time emerged as a flag bearer of a humanitarian movement to arouse the consciousness of the people and in developing among them the urge to extend their helping hand to bring smiles on the faces of the disabled and critically ill persons in this part of the country. The response from the middle class to the appeal made by it seeking donations so as to provide financial assistance to the deserving people is quite satisfactory.
President of the trust and a former Director General of Police (DGP) of the State N N Changkakoti said in a write-up that the trust, which was set up on March 28, 2011, has granted financial assistance to eight critically ill persons. The total financial implication of the assistance was over Rs 5 lakh. The trust has also decided to bear all the expenses of orthopaedic treatment of one of those eight patients in Patna.
At its latest meeting on July 30 last, the trust decided to extend financial assistance to a batch of another 12 persons. Of them, six are persons suffering from complicated diseases and the remaining six are persons with various disabilities. A total amount of Rs 2 lakh 5 thousand will have to be spent by the trust for the purpose, said the Karunadhara president.
The trust has proposed to approach different public and private sector banks, public sector undertakings and different private sector corporate houses for providing substantial amounts to the Karunadhara fund towards the fulfillment of their corporate social responsibility. The trust is also planning to organise seminars, discussions etc., as early as possible in different parts of the State to make the people aware of the rights of the persons with disabilities as per the provisions of the country�s Persons with Disabilities (Equal opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full participation) Act, 1995. The seminars and discussions will also focus on the role of the civil society in ameliorating the condition of such people, said Changkakoti.
However, he maintained that the amount of financial help being extended by the trust will depend on the volume of donations, grants received by it from different sources. The rich people should come forward with liberal donations to enable the Karunadhara to fulfill its aim, he said.
