Govt considering more help to people with disabilities

Social justice ministry is considering increasing assistance to people with disabilities, an official said today ahead of a four-day meet from tomorrow to synergise the requirements of various stake holders.
The meet, 'Swavlambam' (self-reliance), would bring under one roof companies making equipment for people with disabilities and NGOs and the exercise would help the government formulate its future strategy, Department of Disability Affairs Secretary Stuti Kacker said.
She said the department, which was set up last year, was considering proposals to increase subsidies to help such people to have access to modern equipment.
State-owned Artificial Limbs Manufacturing Corporation of India, which will host the event here, has tied up with IITs in Kanpur and Chennai for building assistive software.

There has been an overwhelming response from the manufacturers of assistive devices, NGOs, health-care bodies besides over 50 participants from across the country for the conclave.
Kacker acknowledged that help for people with disabilities in the country was still not up to the mark and the government was working to address their concerns.
Over 2 per cent of the population is said to have some form of disability but their real number could be higher as a "stigma" prevents families to register their members under disabilities category.