The annual All-Vadodara Inter-School Talent Search Contest organised by the Friends Society from the past eight years for both normal and challenged children, this year chose to devote the entire two-day event to challenged children alone. Drawing participation from 280 children, the event provided them an ideal platform to overcome their disabilities and display their talents through elocution, fancy dress and music contests.

The participants included children affected by cerebral palsy, thalassaemic, visually impaired, hearing and speech impaired children and those suffering from other disabilities.

Addressing the gathering at the inauguration on Thursday, B P Lulla, Co-ordinator of the Diploma course in Special Education at the KGP Children's Hospital, called for increasing awareness of parents with regard to disability. ``Most parents shy away from integrating their disabled children from the mainstream fearing social rejection. However, it is primarily their responsibility to ensure that the child is treated with special care,'' he said.

Lulla stressed that institutions dealing with disabilities and imparting education and training about dealing with disability among children were essential in the country. ``As of now, we have only a handful of institutions in the area of special education. More people have to take an initiative in this regard,'' he said.

Though the Persons with Disability Act had already been passed by the government, there is a need for a stronger policy with regard to disability, he added.