Gehlot to inaugurate camp for divyangjanas

Our correspondent

Itanagar, June 5: A mega camp for free-of-cost distribution of assistive aids and appliances to divyangjanas (differently-abled persons) under the Central government’s Assistance to Disabled Persons to Purchase/ Fitting of Aids and Appliances (ADIP) scheme will be organized at the Dorjee Khandu State Convention Center here on June 7.

The camp will be presided over by Union Minister for Social Justice & Empowerment Thaawarchand Gehlot.

This was stated by Lt Colonel (retd) PK Dube, General Manager (Marketing) of the Artificial Limbs Manufacturing Corporation of India (ALIMCO), which is organizing the camp under the aegis of department of Empowerment of Person with Disability under the Union ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment.

The capital district administration and the State department of Social Justice, Empowerment & Tribal Affairs are coordinating in organizing the camp.

Lt Colonel Dube, during a meeting with Chief Minister Pema Khandu here on Tuesday, said that the camp would be the biggest of its kind in the State where about 957 persons with disabilities would be provided aids and appliances free of cost.

He said several beneficiaries from Pasighat will also attend the camp and their aids and appliances will be transported to Pasighat by the organizers after the camp, an official communiqué informed.

Different categories of aids, appliances and assistive devices worth more than Rs 27 lakh will be distributed during the camp among the pre-identified beneficiaries under ADIP scheme. A few modern and contemporary aids and assistive devices to be distributed include daisy players, smart canes and smart phones, wheelchairs, crutches, walking sticks, Braille kit and hearing aid machines, the communiqué stated.

Dube further informed the Chief Minister that senior citizens, who are not categorized as persons with disability but became disabled due to old age, would also be provided physical aids and assisted-living devices during the camp under the Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojna.

Khandu expressed gratitude to the Union ministry and ALIMCO for the camp and said that it would come as a much sought relief for persons with disabilities and senior citizens.

“Persons with disabilities constitute at least 3 per cent of our population. With such schemes they can be equipped to contribute their part successfully to the development and welfare of the society,” he observed and requested Dube to plan out more such camps across the State to reach out and help the needy.

He assured full support of the State government in all such endeavours and to personally attend the distribution camp.

ALIMCO is a Schedule ‘C’ Miniratna Category II central public sector enterprises (CPSEs) registered under Section 8 (Not for Profit motive) of the Companies Act 2013, under the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment.

Its objective is to benefit persons with disability to the maximum extent possible by manufacturing rehabilitation aids and promoting, encouraging and developing the availability, use, supply and distribution of aids, appliances and assistive devices, the communiqué added.