Khandu inaugurates Composite Regional Centre for Persons with Disabilities
Itanagar
With the aim of creating resources and infrastructure required for developing services for persons with disabilities in the state of Arunachal Pradesh, Chief Minister Pema Khandu today inaugurated the Composite Regional Centre for Persons with Disabilities.
The centre is established under the National Institute for Locomotor Disabilities (NILD), Kolkata of Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, Govt. of India.
Earlier in his speech, Chief Minister said the state government’s effort to establish the centre for disabled people had been on for quite long time. He thanked Union Minister of Social Justice & Empowerment Thaawarchand Gehlot, Union Minister for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju and Union Minister of State for Social Justice & Empowerment Krishan Pal Gurjar for the final fulfillment of the establishment of the centre.
The centre has announced Rs 20 crore for establishment of the centre and also 17 numbers of posts have been created to fill various vacancies to run the institute. Khandu requested Parliamentary Secretary for Social Justice, Gojen Gadi to expedite in identifying 2 acres of land for immediate start of the project.
Informing that the government has launched several schemes for the benefit of the disabled people, the CM said government can only bring out good welfare policies and programmes, but it is the society that has to take up the responsibility to empower them.
He announced to increase the amount in Chief Minister’s Disability Pension Scheme of Rs 1000 per month being currently paid to the disabled person, adding that the ensuing budget will see substantial increase in funds for their welfare.
Recalling his recent visit to the Donyi Polo School for Hearing Impaired, Khandu appreciated former Chief Minister Gegong Apang for the noble initiative in opening the school for the disabled. He informed that Rs 2 crore for the school has already been approved under SADA.
Expressing regret over government department’s failure to fully implement the 5% job quota for the disabled, the Chief Minister requested them to strictly follow it. Also for the benefit of disabled person, he announced that in the coming budget a good amount of fund will be placed for organizing Paralympics in the state.
Earlier speaking on the occasion, Rijiju called for a changed outlook towards the disabled. They must not be considered as weak who needs our token help, but instead they must be empowered to make them believes in themselves. They are the people who have special abilities that could not be compared with others, he said.
The Union Minister lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi for giving official recognition to disabled persons as ‘Divyangjan’ from their earlier nomenclature of ‘viklang’. This is a new concept, a new way of recognizing the disabled on par with others, he said.
Expressing regret over too much unionism in the name of disabled in the state, he pointed out that could be due to our own weakness in society. Rijiju said it is a matter of shame if we are unable to help them.
Later, disability equipments were distributed to the disabled persons by the Chief Minister, followed by the Union Minister, Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein, and Gadi.
Also present on the occasion were legislators Paknga Bage, Laisam Simai, Dasanglu Pul and State BJP President Tapir Gao. Social Justice Parliamentary Secretary delivered the welcome address and vote of thanks by Secretary Planning Dr Joram Beda.
