Regional centre for differently abled in Shillong on cards

Staff Correspondent

Shillong, May 2: The Union Government will set a Composite Regional Centre for persons with disabilities in Shillong. This assurance was given to Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma during a meeting with Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment Thawarchand Gehlot in New Delhi on Tuesday.

Informing this, the media communication cell of the Chief Minister stated that during the course of the meeting, the Union Minister has assured to set up Composite Regional Centre for persons with disabilities in Shillong. The Centre aims to create resources and infrastructure required for developing services for persons with disabilities in the State of Meghalaya.

 The Centre will function under the administrative control of National Institute for Empowerment of Persons with Multiple Disabilities.

 The Chief Minister informed that the meeting with the Union Minister was very positive and fruitful as the Central Government has assured full cooperation and support to organise two mega camps to distribute assistive aid to needy persons with disabilities in Shillong and Tura.

 As part of the Central Government initiative, a number of outreach programmes, capacity building and skill development programmes will be held in Meghalaya. The Chief Minister also informed that comprehensive diagnostic assessment, therapeutic, educational and vocational services to persons with all disabilities will be conducted from time to time with support from the Centre.

“Our Government is committed to work on overall development of persons with disabilities and provide them the must needed support. We will also provide sports amongst persons with disabilities and Government of India has assured to set up a stadium for persons with disabilities,” the Chief Minister informed.

Meghalaya is having an estimated 44,730 number of persons with disability. “The State Government is trying to provide enabling support to help these vulnerable sections of our society,” the Chief Minister added.