Learning disability centre at Nagpur, Amravati soon

Nagpur: In a major relief to academically handicapped students, the state government has decided to establish a learning disability centre at Government Medical College and Hospital which will start functioning within seven days, said Sanjay Awachat, president of Soaham Sanstha.

Addressing a press conference at Tilak Patrakar Bhavan on Wednesday, Awachat said another centre will be set up at

Amravati

soon. Students from Vidarbha, Marathwada and Konkan had to travel all the way to Mumbai or Pune where such centres are situated for getting facilities like counselling, certification and reservation benefits. However, they will no longer be required to face difficulties with the establishment of these centres in Vidarbha.

Awachat said the process got momentum after chief minister Devendra Fadnavis assured the state legislative assembly to set up such centres in reply to a point of propriety raised by Morshi MLA Dr Anil Bonde during the monsoon session. Following this, a meeting was convened under the chairmanship of Pravin Pardeshi, additional chief secretary to the CM at mantralaya in Mumbai on July 30 which was attended by top officials of various government departments, and Awachat.

Consequent to this, a two-member committee comprising Dr VP Kale of Grant Medical College, Mumbai, and Awachat was formed which will look into the problems of such students. They will be provided counselling at Central Institute of Behavioural Sciences, Nagpur. Noted psychiatrist Shailesh Pangaonkar will guide the committee.

(Reporting by Ritika Gupta)