Roadmap on anvil to use services of differently abled persons to propel growth: Assam CM

He distributed fitment of artificial limbs and aids and appliances to differently abled persons at a programme held at GMCH Auditorium Bhangagarh in Guwahati.
         
Organised under the aegis of Assam State Legal Services Authority in partnership with Social Welfare, Health and Family Welfare Department, Assam government, Artificial Limbs Manufacturing Corporation of India and Bhagawan Mahavir Viklang Sahayata Samiti, the programme vowed to target 1184 persons in six districts in the State.
          
Addressing the programme, Sonowal said that differently abled persons constitute a chunk of human resources of Assam and if we want to make our State stronger we need to take dibyangs on board and include them into our agenda of priorities.

“Distributing assistive devices to the differently abled people along with Assam State Legal Services Authority is one of our efforts to bring dibyangs in the mainstream and use their services to propel growth of the State,” Sonowal said.
          
Referring to the census report which put the figure of differently abled people in Assam around 4.5 lakh, Sonowal said that the state government is putting its head and heart to prepare a database of people with deformities of different sorts and draw a roadmap for their development.

He also mentioned the budgetary allocation under ‘Sugam Assam’ where in special pedestal and ramp will be put in place in every DC Office for the convenience of differently abled people.
          
Sonowal also thanked Chief Justice, Gauhati High Court Ajit Singh, Assam State Legal Services Authority, Artificial Limbs Manufacturing Corporation of India and Bhagawan Mahavir Viklang Sahayata Samiti for advancing their agenda and tied with State Government for helping the dibyangs with dedication and humility.
       
Chief Justice, Gauhati High court while sharing his views on the programme said that the society needs to develop a special feeling for the differently abled people as he brought his message to him by humming a few lines from Dr. Bhupen Hazarika’s immortal number ‘Manuhe Manuhor babe.....’ (A human being is for(the need) of other Human being).
          
Minister of State (independent charge) of Social Welfare Naba Kumar Doley, Judge Gauhati High Court and Executive Chairman of Assam State Legal Services Authority Hrishikesh Roy, Chief Secretary V.K. Pipersenia, founder patron of Bhagawan Mahavir Viklang Sahayata Samiti D.R.Mehta also spoke on the occasion.
          
It may be noted that as a part of the project 13 such disability camps will be organised in several districts of the State. Appliances distributed in the programme are walking sticks six numbers, Braille Cane Folding for visually challenged 11 numbers, wheel chair 21 numbers, tricycle 15 numbers, 11 Zinc Air Battery 360 numbers, BTE Digital Type Hearing Aid Type II 60 numbers besides artificial limbs.
          
MLA of East Guwahati Siddhartha Bhattacharjee, Additional Chief Secretary Social Welfare Ravi Capoor and a host of dignitaries were present on the occasion.

(Reporting by Hemanta Kumar Nath)