KOCHI: Chief Minister Oommen Chandy said that it was a sad fact that the government could not do anything substantial to mitigate the woes of the mentally challenged children in the state.Now, the government has decided to come up with certain measures to address their issues,” Chandy said while inaugurating the birth centenary celebrations of the late Cardinal Joseph Parecattil held at Ernakulam Town Hall on Saturday.The state government had decided to provide a financial assistance of Rs 2,000 each to the mentally challenged children, Chandy said.“In a review which was held prior to the state budget, the government had found out that there were 260 across the state which worked for the welfare of the mentally challenged children. But sadly, only one institution is in the government sector and the rest are in the private sector. Hence the government decided to come up with a measure to help the ailing children,” he said. Noting that the society was vigilant in offering timely help to these children, he said that such institutions in the private sector was a necessity in the society. He said that the role of a man like the late Cardinal Joseph Parecattil assumed greater significance at this juncture. Parecattil was a man who had dedicated his entire life for the weak and the downtrodden. The services rendered by this great man can be seen in the form of institutions which are able enough to cater to the needs of the vulnerable,” Chandy said. Cardinal George Alancherry who delivered the presidential address said that Parecattil was a man of deep convictions. “He was a man who firmly believed that Cathedrals are not built on opinions but on convictions,” he said. Cardinal said that the Joseph Parecattil was a man who had a great vision and was far ahead of his times. “He could envision that the developmental activities in Kochi would soon be transferred to Kakkand. It was this vision which enabled him to build churches and colleges in Kakkanad,” he said.K V Thomas, Minister of state for Food and Consumer Affairs said that the central government would soon publish a postal cover to commemorate the late cardinal. On the occasion, K V Thomas handed over the key of 24 completed villas of the project ‘Karunya Villas’ a project to provide shelter to the needy. Archbishop Joseph Chennoth, Apostolic Nuncio of Japan released a book on the life history of cardinal Joseph Parecattil. Francis Kallarakal, Archbishop of Verapoly, Archbishop Joseph Chennoth, Apostolic Nuncio of Japan, Kochi Mayor Tony Chammani, Hibi Eden MLA, Socialist Janata (Democratic) state president M P Veerendrakumar, Perumbadavom Sreedharan, president, Kerala Sahitya Akademy and Swamy Prashananda were present.
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