Pillay R group honours special needs people through end of year lunch |07 January 2020

Guests and people with special needs during the lunch. The end of year gathering has become a permanent feature on Pillay R Group’s calendar of activities (Photo: Louis Toussaint)

A group of people with special needs from across the island celebrated their New Year's Eve through a special lunch held at the Asian Fusion Restaurant, Au Cap.

Organised for the eight consecutive year by Pillay R Group, the event was graciously attended by the Minister for Health Jean-Paul Adam, the Pillay family members, members of the National Council for the Disabled, the Indian high commissioner Dalbir Singh Suhag and other distinguished guests.

During the lunch, children with special needs were gifted with a small Christmas present sponsored by Pillay R Group.

During this auspicious event, Michael Andrew was awarded for his exemplary efforts and participation in numerous activities this year including the Indian Ocean Islands Games where he won two medals.

Andrew’s first medal came on the first day of the competition in the 100m sprint where he clocked 12.79 seconds, and his second medal was in the long jump event where he leaped 5.38 metres.

The chairman of Pillay R Group, Ramu Pillay, said this event is now a permanent feature on the company's annual calendar and they are committed to spending every December 31 with people with special needs.

“We need to keep supporting them and stop calling them disabled as they are prospering and calling them that brings them down,” he said.

Mr Pillay also said that a special needs talent show is in the works.

Christophe Zialor