Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment Thawar Chand Gehlot today affirmed the government's effort to empower the differently-abled citizens, and detailed various initiatives taken in this direction.
"The differently-abled (people) are an integral part of human resource. They have the right to lead a good life. To give them this opportunity there is a strong need for public participation in government's efforts," he said.
Gehlot was speaking at a function organised by the District Disability Rehabilitation Centre (DDRC) in where he distributed support equipment worth Rs 60 lakh to 1,044 differently-abled people.
Gehlot said his ministry has provided support equipment to over 3.75 lakh beneficiaries in the past one-and-half year.
He said the ministry organised over 350 camps in 26 states and of these he attended 100 mega camps, where equipment worth over Rs 1 crore each were distributed.
"In six months, artificial limbs with total flexibility would be manufactured at Kanpur in collaboration with German and England-based companies, which would enable differently-abled persons to walk, play, and write normally," he said.
He said persons with more than 80 per cent disability would be provided with motor tricycles.
"Our target is (distribution of) 1,000 (motor tricycles), but demand is higher. One tricycle costs Rs 37,000. We've already completed the target. To meet the extra demand, we've decided to give subsidy of Rs 25,000, and hope MPs, MLAs, and donors would help arrange the rest amount," he said.
The Minister spoke on modern hearing-aids and sensor-laced walking sticks to support the deaf and dumb and visually-disabled people.
He also spoke about Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan, wherein his ministry has planned to provide ramps in 100 multi-storeyed buildings in 50 big cities of the country.
"This facility would also be made available at airports, railway stations and hospitals," he said.
He said medical certificates bearing unique identification number (Aadhaar) would henceforth be issued to differently-abled citizens.
Gehlot praised the differently-abled sportspersons who have brought laurels in international events, besides announcing to set up national sports centres in the country.
The Minister felicitated few differently-abled sportspersons.
