New Delhi, Apr 3 (IANS): Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment Mukul Wasnik Monday said there was an urgent need to sensitise the society about autism to ensure a dignified life for India's 10 million autistic people.

Wasnik was speaking at a workshop organised by the National Trust for Welfare of Persons with Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Mental Retardation and Multiple Disabilities to mark World Autism Day here.

Worldwide, April 2 is celebrated as the World Autistic Awareness Day. Autism is an incurable condition that impacts communication, behaviour and social relationships and affects 1 in 110 people.

"Ten million is a big number. It is time we sensitized all the stakeholders of civil society," Wasnik said.

Wasnik also laid emphasis on the importance of improving special education systems for people with disabilities.

"It is time we got academics, disability experts and the ministries of social justice and human resource development to come together so that there is no confusion," he said.

Wasnik announced that a national festival for people with disabilities will be held in September.