The Prayas programme, specially designed and implemented in Chamarajanagar district to identify and treat speech and hearing problems among children, has earned appreciation and is being hailed as a model initiative in the State.
As part of the programme, early screening for speech and hearing issues has been conducted for all children below six years of age across the district. Through the anganwadi network, 34,935 children aged between six months and six years were identified and screened. Of these, 11,824 children were found during the primary screening to have possible speech and hearing issues.
The second phase of screening has already been completed in Gundlupet taluk and is currently underway in Chamarajanagar taluk.
Launching the second phase of screening at Santhemarahalli, Deputy Commissioner Shilpa Nag said the programme would be extended to the remaining taluks as well. “The Prayas programme has the potential to serve as a model for other districts and has already received State-level recognition. Plans are also in place to extend the programme beyond children to include senior citizens. The objective is to comprehensively address speech and hearing problems and make Chamarajanagar a district free from such impairments,” she said.
The Deputy Commissioner said that children’s academic performance is adversely affected if speech and hearing problems are not identified and treated at an early stage. Delayed intervention, she added, could lead to multiple challenges later in life.
In view of this, the Prayas programme has been implemented to ensure early screening, timely medical intervention, and the provision of necessary hearing aids, entirely through Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funding.
The programme is supported by the All India Institute of Speech and Hearing (AIISH), Mysuru, the Department of Women and Child Development, and the Department of Health and Family Welfare. The Rotary Club of Mysuru West has extended financial assistance for treatment, while various organisations and industries, including Automotive Axles Ltd. have provided CSR support.
Ms. Nag expressed her gratitude to all supporting institutions.
Manjula, the in-charge director of AIISH, Mysuru, said that a programme like Prayas was perhaps being implemented for the first time in the country, owing to the special interest and concern shown by the Deputy Commissioner.
On the occasion, doctors from AIISH and representatives of CSR organisations supporting the Prayas programme were felicitated and presented certificates.
Published – December 18, 2025 07:19 pm IST
