A large number of delegates from various parts of the country are taking part in the three-day seminar, organised jointly by Prerna and National Institute for the Mentally Handicapped (NIMH), Secunderabad.

Inaugurating the seminar, Swami Sachhidanandji regretted that it was unfortunate that the society still viewed mental and other deficiencies as the `fruit' of the previous birth.

Praising efforts of organisations/persons involved in welfare of the handicapped, he said evils in the society were the result of communalism and not religion. `Religion and communalism are two different aspects,'' he said, adding, Gandhiji had preached religion and not communalism.

One of the organisers Suresh Soni said that at a time when 90 million people of India were suffering from one or the other disability, the Government should allocate more funds for them. The disabled should be given equal rights, he stressed.

On the Act framed by the Government for the disabled, Soni stated that it had some limitations. ``It has a clause which states that allocation for funds will be made considering the financial status,'' he said, adding that the financial situation would never improve and allocation never made.

Describing dealing with such a child a difficult task, management consultant Dr Shrikant Sambhrani, observed that treatment for mentally retorted people was lacking in India and even if it existed not many could afford.

``Counselling is non-existent and many times young couples take hasty decisions in treatment of their mentally retorted wards. Children, too, are many times wrongly declared as lunatic,'' he stated.

Dr Sambhrani, however, cautioned that other sibblings should not be deprived of their share of care and time, while treating the mentally challenged child. The sibblings should be made to understand the difficulties of the mentally retorted, he stated.

Stressing the need to expose the mentally challenged to normal situations, he said that it would help in their development.

Executive Director of the ONGC's Western Region N Lal, who was the chief guest on the occasion, while praising the efforts of Prerna, highlighted social obligations fulfiled by the ONGC.

Director of the NIMH D K Menon and Dr Mayur Patel of Prerna also spoke.