A PAEDIATRICIAN is hoping the plight of millions of untreated disabled children in India will move people to join a support group.

The Indian Children's Medical Trust was recently formed to provide the sub-continent's first rehabilitation and treatment centre for disabled children.

Last month, the trust set up its UK headquarters at the Auckland Business centre in St Helen Auckland, County Durham, where paediatrician Dr Narain Rajoria, from Bishop Auckland General Hospital, hopes to form a support group for the charity.

Nearly one sixth of the world's children live in India, where the government is trying to set up a basic health service for youngsters, but health facilities for disabled young people are virtually non-existent.

The Indian Children's Medical Trust hopes to set up a £7m Children's Neuro-sciences and Rehabilitation Institute in Jaipur, in the province of Rajasthan, where the government has provided 40,000 metres of land for the project.

Dr Rajoria said: "I have seen what we do for children here, and that is where the inspiration for the charity has come from.

"There is no system for care of disabled children in India. If their disabilities are only mild, they may go to a normal school. More often they don't go anywhere. That's the problem. Life is a misery for them.

"Once we have this institute, that would fulfil all the needs of the children. It will create awareness and train volunteers who can go out into the community."

If you would like to help, contact the trust on (01388) 665083 or e-mail info