New Delhi, January 23 (IANS). Union Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment, Dr. Virendra Kumar inaugurated the Cross Disability Early Intervention Center (CDEIC) at the Regional Center of the National Institute for the Empowerment of Persons with Intellectual Disabilities (NIEPID), Sector 40, Noida, Uttar Pradesh. During this he said that parents are the first and most influential therapists in a child’s life and when they are empowered with the right knowledge and support, no child suffering from developmental delay will ever be left behind. Emphasizing the Government’s unwavering commitment towards inclusive and early support systems, the Minister underlined that early childhood intervention is not just a service, but a national responsibility to secure the future of every child.
Highlighting the transformative power of early intervention, Dr Virendra Kumar said that the first six years of life are crucial for brain development and lifelong outcomes related to health, learning and social participation. He said that centers like CDEIC are a symbol of the government’s resolve to reach out to children at an early stage and ensure timely, scientific and compassionate support. Directing the Noida-based center to be developed as a model of excellence, the Minister emphasized that quality should not be limited to infrastructure and aesthetics but should also be reflected in advanced technology, skilled professionals and evidence-based practices. He also underlined that families, especially parents and caregivers, are at the center of successful early intervention and directed the Center to conduct regular, structured caregiver training programs, including certification, to empower families as equal partners in the child’s developmental journey.
Briefly outlining his vision, the Minister reiterated that CDEIC should become a hub of hope, confidence and innovation through combined efforts of professionals, institutions and the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPWD). He assured that the Ministry will continue to strengthen early intervention services so that children with developmental delays and disabilities can achieve their full potential and participate meaningfully in society.
Speaking on the occasion, Manmeet Kaur Nanda, Additional Secretary, Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, highlighted the continuous expansion of Cross Disability Early Intervention Centers (CDEIC) across the country. He said that the newly inaugurated center in Noida is the 28th CDEIC established under the department, which reflects the ministry’s focused and sustained approach towards early detection and intervention. He encouraged the NIEPID team to provide high quality, child-centred and family-oriented services and reiterated the Department’s commitment to support and strengthen these centers across the country.
Noida-based CDEIC is designed to provide holistic, multidisciplinary services to children with developmental delays and other special needs. The center will provide services such as occupational therapy, physiotherapy, speech therapy, medical counselling, special education, family counseling and school-readiness interventions, providing holistic care under one roof. Equipped with state-of-the-art facilities, the center will be able to cater to the needs of a large population of children in the age group of 0-6 years from Noida and surrounding areas.
During the visit, the Minister and other dignitaries visited CDEIC facilities, Model Special Education Centre, Model Inclusive Primary School and NIEPID Regional Centre. He also inspected the mobile therapy bus and PMDK facilities. The program featured a lively cultural presentation by children with special needs, along with distribution of NIEPID Disha curriculum material and assistive devices, instruments and teaching-learning materials were also provided to the beneficiaries.
The event concluded with a tree plantation drive led by the Union Minister and Additional Secretary, symbolizing the shared resolve to nurture the potential of every child through growth, sustainability, timely care and collective responsibility.
–IANS
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