World-class autism care township to be set up in Bengal, says CM on World Autism Day

Kolkata: Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, on the occasion of World Autism Awareness Day on Tuesday, said that a world-class autism township will be set up soon to provide training to autistic children and adults.

In a tweet, Banerjee said: "Today is #WorldAutismAwarenessDay. We must create more awareness about autism among the people. You will be happy to know that a world-class autism township will be coming up near Kolkata where autistic children and adults will receive training, treatment and boarding facilities."

This comes as a significant announcement for autistic children in the city, as they would get various facilities at the proposed township. The township will be built as a one-of-its-kind initiative by the Bengal government in association with a private firm, on a 52 acre plot at Sirakol in South 24-Parganas at an estimated cost of Rs 500 crore.

The project is expected to be completed by 2023. It can be mentioned that the project was first announced during the Bengal Global Business Summit (BGBS) in 2018.

The children and adults suffering from the developmental disorder can receive training, treatment and boarding facilities at this township. The township will also have provisions for training teachers who would be dealing with those suffering from the disorder.

The main purpose of the township is to provide holistic development of those suffering from autism. World Autism Awareness Day is an internationally recognised day which falls on April 2 every year and aims to raise awareness about people with Autism Spectrum Disorder through various programmes.

According to a senior state government official, the township will be the first of its kind, not only in the country but also in the world. There will be facilities for accommodating 350 residents, apart from a daycare centre having a capacity of accommodating over 200 children and adolescents. A guest house will also be set up, where parents of those receiving training can stay for a few days.

It may be mentioned here that after coming to power, the Mamata Banerjee government has

started introducing units for autistic children at various government-run hospitals.

Among other medical colleges and hospitals in the state, the NRS Medical College and Hospital runs a unique autistic care centre, where a large number of patients from across the state visit.