146 children to get financial aid for cochlear implant

Kanpur, Aug 17 (PTI) At least 146 under privilegedchildren, under five years of age, with speech and hearingdisability will get financial aid for cochlear implantsurgeries from Kanpur based Artificial Limbs and ManufacturingCorporation (ALIMCO). ALIMCO chairman cum managing director (CMD) DR Sareentold PTI today that it had raised Rs 10 crore from publicsector units (PSU) under corporate social responsibility(CSR) to fund these surgeries. He said the surgery will allow deaf children to hearthrough an electronic device implanted in the ear. "Each surgery will cost around Rs 6 lakhs and will beconducted at Mumbai based Ali Yavar Jung National Institutefor the Hearing Handicapped (AYJNIH)," he said. Sareen urgedprivate companies to also donate for the cause under their CSRactivities. ALIMCO, an undertaking of the Union Ministry of SocialJustice and Empowerment, started the initiative last year andtill date 492 children have undergone the surgery, the CMDsaid. The corporation has also undertaken awareness programmesin Kanpur and areas around the city. PTI ZIR ANB RTIKA