Dibrugarh, Aug. 19: Assam chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal today said the state government would provide financial assistance to 4.5 lakh differently-abled people.

Participating in the Reach Out and Respond programme, organised by the Assam State Legal Services Authority in collaboration with the social welfare department at Dibrugarh Hanumanbax Surajmall Kanoi College, Sonowal said all must be empowered to live with dignity and become able citizens of the country.

He said there are 3,500 beneficiaries in Dibrugarh, Tinsukia and Sivasagar districts and the Reach Out and Respond camp in Dibrugarh would bring light to the lives of the divyangs (divine body) and make them contributors to the country's growth.

"A citizen should work for the differently-abled people. We cannot leave them behind as they too have equal status in society. We should respect them and help them,'' he said.

The Artificial Limbs Manufacturing Corporation of India, a central public service undertaking, and the Bhagawan Mahaveer Viklang Sahayata Samiti, Jaipur, provided artificial limbs, assistive appliances and aids to the differently-abled people.

Sonowal said posterity will realise the importance of "equality" in society and work for uplift of the differently-abled people. "We should play a pivotal role for them and strengthen society. If all the four pillars of democracy work in tandem, every problem will be rooted out.''

Among those present at the programme were Gauhati High Court Chief Justice Ajit Singh, Justice Hrishikesh Roy, MP Rameswar Teli, MLAs Prashanta Phukan, Rituparna Baruah, Bimal Bora, Binod Hazarika, Teros Gowala, Naren Sonowal, chief secretary V.K. Pipersenia, principal secretary, social welfare department, Jishnu Baruah, director of social welfare S.S. Meenakshi Sundaram and Dibrugarh deputy commissioner Laya Madduri.