CM's sops for disabled

A Special Officer will soon be appointed by the government at Secretariat to study and settle the issues or demands of the physically handicapped persons.

Giving an assurance to this effect, Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy told a gathering of the physically handicapped persons at Harihara Kala Bhavan on Friday that they were always welcome to meet him. He added that when they arrive at the C Block at the Secretariat, they need not necessarily go up the stairs to reach the sixth floor for meeting the Chief Minister. Instead an officer would shortly camp at the ground floor to take up their issues on the spot. He said he would leave instructions to this effect shortly.

KKR also assured them that he would make efforts for releasing more funds for the welfare of blind and others.

Stressing the importance of education for growing in any field, he advised the physicall-challenged people to make concerted efforts to educate themselves in the schools.

He said the government would make all efforts to provide educational facilities to challenged and grant scholarships and other facilities to them.

Going deeper into the issue of the 'handicap' the KKR was of the opinion that this was due to the marriages performed within the family that suffered this problem of handicap. There was therefore a need to inform all concerned to prevent such marriages.

The Chief Minister had a high opinion about the handicapped persons stating that they sometimes fared better if only suitable encouragement and chances were provided to them. As of now there were hostels and training centres earmarked for them. However, attempts would be made to increase schools and hostels for their benefit.

Life and livelihood was a challenge for them. Under these circumstances they were left with no alternative except concentrating on educational qualifications, which was the best avenue for their prospects, he said.

KKR also said Rs 596 crore was set aside for the roughly 10 lakh physically-challenged persons, at the rate of Rs 500 per head as pension. He added that such a pension scheme did not exist anywhere else in the country.