A ramp for the disabled

Cuttack, Nov. 27: The district has ranked first in the country for its achievements in the field of “welfare of persons with disability” during 2012-13.

“President Pranab Mukherjee will confer the national award to Cuttack as the best district for its outstanding work, in New Delhi on December 4, which is World Disability Day,” said district information & public relation officer Minaketan Behera today.

The award consisting of a citation, a certificate and shield will be given to district collector Girish S.N.

Behera said in a press release that the Cuttack district has been selected to receive the national award in recognition of special efforts made by organising 15 Bhima Bhoi Bhinnakshayama Abhijan camps for identification and rehabilitation of persons with disability, convergence of various development schemes for benefit of physically challenged, their rehabilitation by ensuring livelihood, economic empowerment and education, activities in the area of disability rehabilitation, special efforts made in the provision of services including prevention of disability, social integration and entertainment for them and awareness generation activities.

The Union social justice ministry has been giving the award every year since 1969 to give credit to special efforts made in disability rehabilitation and instil competitive spirit among the districts for doing better work in the field.

According to an official release, during 2012-13 Cuttack district had ensured monthly pensions for 12,149 physically challenged persons under the state government’s Madhu Babu Pension Yojana and 3,696 beneficiaries under the Indira Gandi Disability Pension Scheme.

While 2,254 disabled students were provided Banashree scholarship, 128 students from physically challenged families were given scholarships to continue higher studies.

While four eligible physically challenged persons of different categories have been appointed as Sikshya Sahayaks in primary and upper-primary schools, the district administration had undertaken a special drive to provide barrier-free access to the disabled in all public offices.

Under the livelihood support programme, the district administration had provided loans amounting to Rs 21.97 lakh to 166 beneficiaries, while forming 86 self-help groups and providing financial assistance, the official release said.