Mangaluru: In a special gesture to help eradicate hearing problems among underprivileged people of the town, Help India Foundation stepped forward in distributing free hearing aids. Help India Foundation is the city’s own organization which has been conducting events often addressing the needs of physically or mentally challenged individuals who have been deprived of the treatment for various causes including financial.

As many as 50 hearing aids were distributed to the underprivileged at a programme held at Town Hall on Sunday December 11. The selected 50 members were a part of a camp organised earlier where their hearing health was observed and individual ear impressions were taken so as to provide them with their own personalised hearing aid.

Speaking to the gathering at the event present, food and supplies minister of Karnataka state government, U T Khadar said, “The most important part in family conversations is listening to family members while they speak. If they can hear well what is being told, the conversations automatically turn better.”

Khadar went on to say, “After the birth of every child in hospitals, ear testing equipments should be maintained by these hospitals in order to know if the child can hear well after he/she grows up. Usually, across India, a cochlear implant will cost around Rs 13 lac but in Karnataka, the same surgery can be performed for Rs 6 lac. The amount to be pooled in by the patient will be very little since there are Rs 3 lac and Rs 2 lac grants from the center and state governments respectively.”

Speaking about hearing aids available to all poor people, district in-charge minister Ramanath Rai said, “Looking at hearing disorders on a larger scale, villagers are equally affected when it comes to this. Since there are more poor people in village areas, a similar event must be conducted in the suburbs and interior areas in order to reach out to maximum number of people.”

Mangaluru north MLA J R Lobo, Chief Whip of the legislative council Ivan D'Souza, Mangaluru south MLA Mohideen Bawa, deputy superintendent of police Shantharaju and Mangaluru congress committee interim president Ibrahim Kodijal, Muslim Central Committee, Dakshina Kannada and Udupi, president K S Mohammed Masood, renowned business men Zakaria Jokatte, Shabeer Landmarks and U K Monu were also present at the occasion.

Nasir Mohideen delivered the keynote address as president of Help India Foundation. Students and managing authorities of M V Shetty College of Speech and Hearing, Father Muller Hospital, K S Hegde Medical College and Kasturba Medical College also took part in the programme.

A dedicated information desk put up at Town Hall instructed the beneficiaries on how to use and take care of their hearing aids.