Jammu, Jun 9: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha Monday said that the government was committed to ensuring equal opportunities for the Persons with Disabilities (PwDs).
Inaugurating a mass distribution drive of aids and appliances for the PwDs (specially-abled), in Jammu, the LG in his address said, ìI assure our Divyangjan that administration is committed to ensuring equality and equal opportunity to them in every sphere of life and they will always be treated as equals in terms of rights, access, and dignity.
He lauded the noble initiative by the Directorate of Social Welfare, Jammu, under two key centrally sponsored schemes ñ Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana (RVY) and Assistance to Disabled Persons for Purchase and Fitting of Aids and Appliances (ADIP) aimed to improve lives of senior citizens with disabilities and to empower PwDs.
ìI strongly believe that people with disabilities have special abilities and they possess unique strengths and perspectives. I admire their exceptional resilience, problem-solving skills, and empathy towards others in the society,î LG Sinha said.
He directed the officials to promote inclusion and leverage practical solutions in the ever-evolving technological world.
ìI have always dreamt of building a caring society and welfare and rehabilitation of Divyangjan is my priority. It is my commitment to ensure dignity of life to our Divyangjan and their participation in all walks of life,î the LG said.
He reiterated the commitment of the Centre and J&K administration to fairness and opportunity tailored to the individual needs of the senior citizens.
ìI will personally ensure that systemic inequities and accessibility barriers ñ physical, digital, and social are completely removed,î LG Sinha said.
He initiated the disbursement of pension arrears of Rs 6.14 crore to 12,660 beneficiaries under the Integrated Social Security Scheme (ISSS).
The arrears were pending due to Aadhaar non-seeding, aimed at ensuring financial inclusion and support to the elderly, widows, and PwDs.
The LG said that the Social Welfare Department was coming up with a revolutionary app for the integration of eligible senior citizens into the pension beneficiaries.
He inaugurated a 50-bedded halfway home for psycho-social rehabilitation of treated and controlled people with mental illness established at Rs 4.39 crore at Lower Chowadi Jammu, under the Deendayal Divyangjan Rehabilitation Scheme (DDRS).
The halfway home will offer a structured environment to help individuals with mental illness who have been discharged from hospitals or institutions to reintegrate into society.
LG Sinha assured all support and assistance to the PwDs by the Social Welfare Department for their self-employment endeavours.
He asked the officials to submit the proposal to the Centre for the establishment of a park dedicated to PwDs.
The LG also dedicated the Parisha Child Care Institution for Girls, established at a cost of Rs 3.03 crore at Mandi Gurglian, Samba.
He commended the efforts of everyone associated with the Parisha initiative for providing a safe and nurturing environment for a better future for girl children in need.
The Directorate of Social Welfare Jammu, in collaboration with Artificial Limbs Manufacturing Corporation of India (ALIMCO), has conducted 112 assessment camps in all 10 districts of the Jammu division.
A total of 2939 persons with disabilities under the ADIP scheme and 2756 senior citizens under the RVY scheme, culminating in a total of 5918 identified beneficiaries, will receive more than 19,960 aids and appliances during the mass distribution drive.
Members of Legislative Assembly Sham Lal Sharma, Arvind Gupta, Gharu Ram, Yudhvir Sethi, and Surinder Kumar; Ramesh Kumar, Divisional Commissioner Jammu; Rupesh Kumar, Director Social Welfare Department Jammu, senior officials, PwDs, representatives of various NGOs, and civil society members were present on the occasion.
