Taking care of the handicapped part of Islamic framework of solidarity: Gayoom

MALE, Mar 12 (HNS) - President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom on Monday said that Islam stressed the social obligation to take care of those with special needs through catering to their requirements and enabling them to become productive members of the society, and pointed out that providing such care was part of the Islamic framework of solidarity and civic responsibility. The President made the statement while addressing the function held at Giyaasuddin School to award certificates to the participants of the courses conducted by Care Society and to those who had helped the NGO in various ways. Gayoom said that Islam taught every member of the community to be equal and with inherent rights, and called upon everyone to safeguard the rights of each and everyone and to strive to achieve happiness, well-being and advancement for all. He said that undertaking charitable and philanthropic activities that benefited people with low incomes, the orphaned, the widowed, the elderly, the indisposed, and the differently able persons within the community, and helping them to become productive members of the society were incumbent upon the community under the principles of Islamic solidarity and civic responsibility. The President said that those with special needs can be fully integrated into the society as productive and happy members of the community through the support of their families and friends, and through the help of other members of the society. Pointing out that every individual was endowed with certain talents and aptitudes, Gayoom said that persons with special needs also could be trained to join the job market. He added that when the talents and the skills of an individual were developed and encouraged by others, he or she could make a meaningful contribution to the development of the nation. Further, the President said that it was incumbent on families and on the entire society to give extra care and devotion and to provide an education to differently able persons to help them become productive members of their family and citizens who contributed to national development. Praising the efforts being made by Care Society to assist in various ways those in the community with special needs, and to make them productive citizens, the President thanked Fathimath Afiya, Executive Director of Care Society and the executives and the members of the Society. He also congratulated the participants and those who achieved commendable results in the courses conducted by Care Society. Gayoom was presented a commemorative plaque on behalf of Care Society by Afiya and also was presented a Video Compact Disc of a song that he had composed for Care Society. The VCD was offered to the President by two students of Care Society. The certificates for commendable achievement and for participation in the courses conducted by Care Society and for assisting Care Society in various ways were given away by the President. Ijazulla Abdulla Ali provided a brief outline of the courses that had been conducted by Care Society. He noted the importance given by the President to the work of Care Society, and expressed gratitude, on behalf of the Society, to the President for gracing the function.