Deen Dayal Divyangajan Sahajya Scheme launched

Treat differently-abled with empathy: Vice President

BY OUR STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI, Dec 3: Vice President M Venkaiah idu on Sunday exhorted the people of the country to change their mindset towards differently-abled persons saying that they need empathy not sympathy.

“It is necessary that there is a change in the thought process as just making laws will not help in improving the situation for the differently abled. The society often considers the differently-abled persons as burden and tries to have pity on them. Such mindset is a gross injustice to differently-abled persons. We cannot discrimite but love them. Once we start considering the differently-abled persons at par with us it will ensure them to lead a dignified life in the society,” idu said.

Speaking at the launch of the Deen Dayal Divyangajan Sahajya Scheme at Sarusojai Stadium here on the occasion of Intertiol Day of Persons with Disabilities, idu said the people must treat the differently abled with empathy and not sympathy. He said the government alone cannot help differently-abled persons unless each and every member of the society treat them equally and emphatically.

Under the Deen Dayal Divyangajan Sahajya Scheme every differently abled person in the State will be entitled to a one-time grant of Rs 5,000 for their treatment.

“Accessibility should be made mandatory and the entire society should encourage and help differently-abled persons in all possible manners.  The State Government should ensure that all beneficiaries get their dues under the various schemes introduced for them,” idu said.

The Vice President also called upon banks to provide loans liberally to them in an easy and simplified process.

According to idu, India is home to 2.21 per cent of the total 15 per cent of differently-abled population across the globe. He said several plans including creation of a separate directorate and unique identity cards are on the pipeline for welfare of the differently-abled persons in the State.

Stating that under Prime Minister rendra Modi’s leadership the divyangjans received a renewed focus and many schemes targeting their welfare have now been taken up by the Central and State governments, the Vice President urged the government machinery to be responsive to the needs of the differently abled and create accessible environment for them in government offices, educatiol and other public institutions.

idu also lauded the Assam Government for introducing the ‘Pram Act’ that entails all government employees to make contributions from their salaries for the elderly and differently-abled family members. He said India has a rich tradition of respecting elders and parents.

Speaking on the occasion, Chief Minister Sarbanda Sonowal said his government is committed to place welfare of the poor and the divyngjans at the centre of its thoughts. “The ‘Deen Dayal Dibyangjan Sahajya Achoni’ is introduced with a humanistic approach. Following Prime Minister rendra Modi’s mantra of ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas’, Assam Government is working resolutely to ensure inclusive,  equal and all round development of all,” he said. 

Sonowal said that the newly launched ‘Deen Dayal Divyangjan Sahajya Achoni’ will benefit 4.5 lakh divyangjans of the State and urged the people to help in identifying all the people who are having physical challenges so that the government could work for their empowerment.

Describing how the first-ever ITI in the country at Dibrugarh in upper Assam will help the differently-abled persons to become self sufficient, Sonowal said that the State Government is also taking steps for providing employment to differently-abled people as per provisions of the Central Government.

Governor (Professor) Jagdish Mukhi in his speech urged the people to understand the fundamental principle behind observation of the ‘Intertiol Day of Persons with Disabilities’ which aims at ensuring dignity and development of the physically challenged. By calling the physically challenged persons as “Divyangs”, Prime Minister rendra Modi put the agenda of this “neglected” section of the society into “privileged” category, Mukhi said.

 As part of the launching ceremony, the Vice President presented cheques of Rs. 5000 to seven differently-abled people of the state as one-time assistance for their medical treatment. The scheme will cover around 4.5 lakh divyangjans of the State and an amount of Rs. 250 crore has been allocated in the state budget. In the first phase of implementation, one lakh identified beneficiaries would receive the fincial assistance.

Coinciding with the programme, idu also distributed the ‘Prero Award’ instituted by the ‘Rastriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan’ (RMSA) to 10 meritorious differently-abled students which carries a cheque of  ten thousand rupees and a certificate each.

Minister of State for Social Welfare Department ba Kumar Doley while delivering the welcome address, said his department is committed to ensure a dignified life to differently-abled persons.