Visakhapatnam :
Social justice camps will be conducted in all the 13 districts of Andhra Pradesh to distribute aid to the differently-abled, which would give them an opportunity to empower themselves in life, said Union minister for Social Justice Thaawar Chand Gehlot, here Saturday.
The Central government has organised these camps in Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram, Tirupati and Anakapalle, and distributed welfare aid worth `5 crore to the differently-abled so far.
Speaking at a social justice camp organised at Anakapalle, the minister said that the Centre initiated various steps to iempower the differently-abled and senior citizens in the country. The department has decided to provide lifts and ramps in all government offices and hospitals for the benefit of the differently-abled. Rehabilitation and training centres will be established in every district, he informed.
The Union government was committed to the welfare of the physically and mentally-challenged people. “The government allocated `6,500 crore for the social justice department and another `560 crore for the department of disability affairs to protect the interests of the differently-abled,” he reiterated.
The minister also revealed the Central government’s plans to introduce e-vidya system for the benefit of differently-abled apart from providing them with educational loans at a subsidised interest rate of four per cent to pursue higher studies.
Anakapalle Parliament member M Srinivasa Rao requested the Union minister to facilitate sanctioning of a National Institute of Spinal Surgery unit at Anakapalle to provide better treatment for the victims of road accidents. State ministers P Sujatha, P Raghunadha Reddy and Ganta Srinivasa Rao elaborated on the welfare measures initiated by the state government.
Later, Gehlot told mediamen in Visakhapatnam that the Union Ministry for Social Justice and Empowerment will establish five sports complexes for the differently-abled in five zones of the country. “The only sports complex for differently-abled in South India will be constructed in Visakhapatnam and we have asked the state government to provide necessary land in this regard.”
The Union government would also provide `6 lakh for the cochlear implants towards surgeries conducted for children below six years and provide them a new lease of life.
“Recently, the ministry financed for three children for the cochlear implant in Mumbai. It will conduct camps to distribute motorised tricycles to provide mobility to people with over 80 per cent disability,” he added.
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Andhra Pradesh / by Express News Service / February 15th, 2015