Indore Collector reviews welfare schemes for persons with disabilities at advisory board meeting

Collector Dr Yogesh Tukaram Bharsat chaired a review meeting of the district-level Advisory Board for Persons with Disabilities on Tuesday. The board was constituted under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016. The meeting reviewed in detail schemes on protection of rights, social security, education, health, skill development, employment and self-employment for persons with disabilities. The Collector asked officials of the departments concerned to work in coordination and ensure that persons with disabilities get priority in the benefits of government schemes and facilities.

Pankaj Sanwle, Deputy Director in the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, briefed the meeting on the various welfare schemes, pension facilities and activities of the department.

The Collector said the district-level helpline for persons with disabilities should be widely publicised so that their problems are resolved quickly. The police department was told to set up a helpline and a nodal contact system to prevent crimes against persons with disabilities and act promptly on their complaints. Directions were also given to ensure barrier-free movement, including ramps, and necessary facilities in all government offices in the district. The Nazarat branch was asked to get handrails fitted on the ramp at the Collectorate building.

The Collector laid special stress on making persons with disabilities economically self-reliant. He asked that those above 18 years of age be identified and offered skill training, employment and self-employment opportunities matching their abilities and interests. The Deputy Director, Social Justice, was directed to hold special camps for this. Self-help groups of persons with disabilities are to be formed through the National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM) and linked to livelihood activities. The Industries Department was directed to give eligible persons with disabilities priority in self-employment schemes.

Directions were also given to keep the reserved seats for persons with disabilities and senior citizens in public transport buses and to give eligible persons with disabilities fare concessions as per the rules. A separate help desk for persons with disabilities is to be set up at the weekly public hearing so that their problems and applications can be disposed of easily.

Officials were directed to simplify the process of issuing certificates to students with disabilities and to prepare an action plan for career counselling, special coaching and employment guidance. The Collector said the departments concerned should work together to connect students with education, training and employment suited to their abilities and interests.

The meeting asked that eligible people with sickle cell disease be identified and issued disability certificates and UDID cards as per the prescribed criteria. Directions were also given to extend pension scheme benefits to eligible beneficiaries. A one-day special camp was to be held to issue disability certificates to people with mental disabilities.

The Collector reviewed the therapy and other rehabilitation facilities at the District Disability Rehabilitation Centre (DDRC) and directed that children with disabilities receive them regularly. A vehicle and driver are to be arranged so children can reach the centre easily, so that as many needy children as possible benefit from therapy and rehabilitation services.

The Collector told all departments that welfare schemes for persons with disabilities should be implemented with sensitivity and priority. Eligible persons should not face needless trouble in availing schemes and should get education, health, employment and social security facilities easily.

Those present included Zila Panchayat Chief Executive Officer Jitendra Singh Chouhan, Chief Medical and Health Officer Dr B.L. Chopra, orthopaedic specialist and DDRC administrative officer Dr V.S. Ninama, District Education Officer R.S. Bamania, DUDA project officer Kiran Anjana and Deputy Director, Social Justice, Pankaj Sanwle. Non-official members of the committee and representatives of voluntary organisations Kamlesh Rathore, Yashwant Bhandari and Yogesh Chandra Rathore, Social Security Officer Nidhi Thakur and Priyank Patidar, along with other officials concerned, were also present.