Dispur, September 25: Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma attended a free hearing aid distribution camp organized by the Deen Dayal Sravana Foundation in collaboration with the National Health Mission (NHM) Assam at the Assam Water Centre in Basistha. The event commemorated the 109th birth anniversary of Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyaya, with a total of 200 financially disadvantaged individuals, including children with hearing impairments from Kamrup Metropolitan, Kamrup, Morigaon, and Nalbari districts, receiving free hearing aids.
Speaking at the camp, Sarma noted that the Deen Dayal Sravana Foundation was established in honor of Pandit Upadhyaya, a prominent humanitarian and philosopher. He remarked, “Today’s distribution of hearing aids marks the 109th birth anniversary of Pandit Upadhyaya, who championed the upliftment of society’s most marginalized individuals through his concept of Antyodaya.” The Chief Minister underscored that true societal progress is achievable only when each individual is empowered, a principle central to Pandit Upadhyaya’s philosophy of Integral Humanism.
Sarma expressed gratitude to Regula Ramanjaneyulu, founder and chairman of the Deen Dayal Sravana Foundation, and all involved in executing this initiative. He extended congratulations to today’s hearing aid recipients and acknowledged stakeholders like Coal India Limited for their essential role in supporting this noble endeavor.
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Highlighting the global issue of hearing impairment, CM Sarma stated that an estimated 3.40 crore children worldwide are affected, and around 30% of individuals over 60 experience hearing loss. Citing World Health Organization (WHO) data, he noted that approximately 6.30 crore people in India deal with significant hearing impairments. He emphasized that early identification of the causes of hearing loss, followed by appropriate interventions, could greatly mitigate the condition. The CM praised the initiative by the Deendayal Sravana Foundation and NHM Assam to identify eligible beneficiaries and provide free hearing aids, calling it both timely and impactful.
Himanta also mentioned that the Deendayal Sravana Foundation, established in 2018, is committed to creating a hearing impairment-free India by 2047, aligning with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision for a developed nation. He acknowledged that over 11,000 individuals in Andhra Pradesh and Mizoram have already benefited from this initiative.
In collaboration with the National Institute of Public Cooperation and Child Development and NHM’s Child Health Programme, 3,130 individuals with hearing impairments have been identified to receive free hearing aids. In addition to today’s distribution, another 200 individuals from the districts of Bongaigaon, Chirang, Kokrajhar, and Goalpara will receive hearing aids at a scheduled program in Bongaigaon tomorrow. Dr. Sarma reiterated the various measures being undertaken by the State Government to eliminate hearing impairment from society.
