Post News Network
Bhubaneswar, June 11: A couple from the city has taken the first step towards establishing a one-stop centre for people suffering from autism.
Zishan Ali and his wife Gargi Bhattacharya have set the process of establishing the Zain Foundation Trust rolling Thursday by announcing the move at a gathering of well wishers and friends at a city hotel. The event also included an awareness rally.
The Zain Foundation Trust is being established in the memory of the couple’s elder son Zain, who lost his life to cancer last year.
“June 11 was the birthday of my son Zain, whom we lost last year. He died due to cancer. To mark the day, we have decided to inaugurate the Foundation Trust, which will work as a one-stop centre for people with autism. This will be a gift from my deceased son to his younger brother who is autistic,” Gargi Bhattacharya told Orissa POST.
Zishan Ali is an owner of a restaurant in city and his wife is a writer, who has now been doing research on autism for the last four years. The two hope that their efforts will help numerous autistic people of the state cope with the menace.
“We have taken land near Khurda where we will build the trust. In Orissa, we lack a dedicated residential help centre for autistic people. We will make sure people suffering from autism get adequate help in terms of training from experts. We plan to set up a dispensary, facilities for psychological training for victims and their parents, as well as parental aid, so that this can act as a one-stop centre for autistic people,” she said.
“This foundation is totally dedicated to my elder son late Zain. We hope we can help many people from the state in fighting against autism. Today we have taken the first step in this regard,” said Zishan Ali.
A number of people participated in the function Thursday evening. As part of the event, a group of bikers from the foundation took out an awareness rally on autism from a city hotel near Jayadev Vihar through KIIT square, CRP square before coming back.
