By Ronita Torcato

The Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari inaugurated an initiative to provide  hearing aids to children with hearing impairment at the ‘Gifting of Sound’ event organised by NGO Suryodaya Foundation in Mumbai yesterday.

Addressing the gathering, the Union Minister promised that hearing aids will be provided to school children with hearing impairment after conducting screenings  across the country. 

Mr Gadkari stressed the need to work incessantly on behalf of  “exploited, victimised and specially-abled persons, to bring them into the mainstream of society.” 

Lauding the Suryodaya Foundation, he said, ” Indian culture has a tradition of repaying debt to society. Everyone should endeavour to give something back to society. Individuals and organizations who have attained a special position in society should  implement such activities. An initiative taken in the the spirit of social responsibility to help the  specially-abled is truly commendable.

Mr Gadkari also noted that the state of  Maharashtra is rich in literature, culture and history and its saints have taught  service to the underprivileged.

 “We  have been active in the social sector for many years and recently distributed aids to 40 thousand divyang people”, he said, adding that the lives of  people can be transformed with  assistance from technology.

Present at the event were  renowned singer Anuradha Paudwal,  Asha Campus CEO, Aarti Savoor, WSA India CEO Avinash Pawar,  and Artificial Limbs Manufacturing Corporation of India (ALIMCO) CMD, Praveen Kumar.