Speakers at a press conference here yesterday called for creating income-generating activities for the mental health patients for mainstreaming them.

They mentioned that the mental health patients are always subjected to negligence, injustice, social stigma and other repression and oppressions in society.

On the contrary, they are also deprived of fundamental rights including education, healthcare, recreation, job placement and leadership and this has become a normal phenomenon in society.

However, they underlined the need for a concerted effort to establish a sound and friendly atmosphere for the mentally disabled persons to ensure a dignified position for them in society.

They were addressing the press conference organised by Badhan Protibandhi Sangshta (BPS) and Action on Disability and Development (ADD) at Miapara Public Library ahead of World Mental Health Day-2009 to be observ'ed today.

Rakhi Khatun of BPS read out a written statement at the press conference that was also addressed, among others, by ADD Area Coordinator Sarker Helaluzzaman, BPS Convener Nasir Uddin and ADD Traini ng Center Coordinator Monwarul Islam.

ADD and BPS have jointly chalked out various programs including rally, discussion meeting and sports and cultural competition in observance of the day.

Speaking on the occasion, they viewed that the underprivileged community is an integral part of society and so they must be given equal opportunity to enjoy all basic rights like the other privileged sections.

They said the disabled children must be given equal opportunity in institutional education like the privileged ones, so that they could grow as worthy citizens and contribute to the country's development in various fields.