VISAKHAPATNAM: The International Day of Persons with Disabilities was celebrated in the north Andhra region Thursday. To mark the occasion, the district administrations of Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram and Srikakulam organised various programmes and distributed various assets among the disabled persons.
In Visakhapatnam, while participating in the celebrations, collector N Yuvaraj said that three per cent of the population in the country was suffering from various disorders. For the welfare of the disabled persons, the government offered three per cent reservation in government jobs and also implemented various welfare schemes. There were some vacancies in the disabled quota in the district and the notification would be released very soon. Observing the troubles of the disabled persons who have been coming to the Collectorate to submit their grievances, the government had released funds for two lifts to be arranged in the Collector’s Office, Yuvaraj said.
Group general manager of Simhadri Super Thermal Power Plant of NTPC AK Samanta said that the corporation had been spending three per cent of Corporate Social Responsibility funds for the welfare of the disabled persons. On the occasion, the collector presented awards to 39 persons, who won medals in the state-level sports meet for the disabled. Tricycles, wheel-chairs and hearing aids were presented to the disabled.
In Vizianagaram, a rally was organised from Kotaveedhi junction to Ananda Gajapathi Auditorium. Minister for Rural Development K Mrunalini flagged off the rally. Later, addressing a huge gathering, the minister said that most of the children were born with disabilities due to lack of nutritious food and consanguineous marriages. If pregnant women take iron and folic acid tablets regularly, those disabilities can be prevented, the minister said. She also said that because of drunken driving a large number of people are losing limbs in accidents. She appealed to the people to stop drunken driving. The government has been providing pensions to disabled persons and also offering various schemes to them. The minister distributed tricycles to beneficiaries.
In Srikakulam, the administration organised a programme at Ambedkar auditorium. Government whip K Ravi Kumar attended as the chief guest. Disabled persons were not depending on anyone and are working and rendering services to the nation, he said. Collector P Lakshmi Nrusimham called upon the people to help the disabled persons instead of paying lip service.
Disabled Welfare assistant director Y Lakshmana Rao listed the various welfare schemes offered to the disabled persons. The government was providing motorcycles with `30,000 subsidy to persons studying professional and post-graduation courses. The government was also providing `50,000 to the disabled persons for marriage besides financial help under the self-employment schemes, he added.