Chief Minister Oommen Chandy said that cochlear implant surgeries were conducted in 43 children under the Cochlear Implant scheme for hearing impaired children so far.
Referring to the criticism of playback singer K J Yesudas that there was no assistance from the government on this cause, the Chief Minister enquired about the context in which Yesudas made such remarks.
He produced the list of 43 children who got assistance of Rupees five lakh each for the surgery.
In a release issued later, it was stated that the government received 329 applications seeking aid under the scheme.
Of this, the first list comprising 200 children were prepared for surgery to be conducted in four turns a year. The next list of 50 children will be given by October 15. The third and fourth lists will get approval in January and March next year.