A group of children having Down syndrome disorder walked through a stretch of south Kolkata defying the afternoon scorch to spread awareness on World Down Syndrome Day.
The children carried the posters with messages like: “You are able, so are we”, “What you can do. We can do too” written on them. They started the rally from Motilal Nehru Road side of Deshapriya Park in south Calcutta and then marched around the park before entering the ground.
At the park ground, some of these children took part in a cultural programme.
Down syndrome is a genetic disorder that leads to developmental changes, distinct physical features, intellectual disability and development delays. But seeing the children on Monday, there was little to tell their many handicaps.
It was a story of their many triumphs.
World Down Syndrome Day (WDSD) was first organised in 2006 by the Down Syndrome Association in Singapore, following which United Nations (UN) declared it a global healthcare event on December 19, 2011.
The Trisomy 21 Research Society (Netherlands)-Indian Chapter (T21RS), in collaboration with The Down Syndrome Association of Kolkata organised the walk that was attended by the individuals with Down Syndrome, their families and caregivers and also the members of the scientific research team.
Participant Nilanjana Sarkar, in broken words, told The Telegraph: “It’s bit awkward to take part in a rally like this. But at the same time, I am happy about the fact that an initiative has been taken to raise awareness.”
Nitasha Guha, a parent, said Monday’s walk was a baby step towards creating awareness. “Who would bother about our kids? No one. So, when nobody else is bothered, it is the parents who have to come on to the streets and make some noise. We are trying to initiate people into what exactly Down syndrome is. A sense of inclusiveness should be generated among the people.”
Sujay Ghosh, a professor at Cytogenetics and Genomics Research Unit, department of zoology, at Calcutta University, who is also the chairman of Trisomy 21 Research Society (Netherlands), Indian Chapter, said this inclusive approach could make a lot of difference.
“There is a bent of mind prevalent among the people that since these kids suffer from the disorder, they are mentally unstable and can be discarded. In abroad, many of these kids have emerged as musicians and even entrepreneurs and made a mark on their own. All they need is a little bit of handholding.”