Orissa to set up directorate to look after welfare projects for physically challenged

A high level meeting held in the Orissa Secretariat on Tuesday under the Chairmanship of the Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik. It has been decided to set up a separate directorate to look after the welfare projects for the physically challenged persons besides amending industrial policy resolution (IPR) to reserve jobs for them in industries . There are more than ten lakh physically challenged persons in the state, which is 2.78 of the population. They can be provided disabled certificate from the Community Health Centres (CHCs) in the block level instead of district chief medical.

It has also been decided to supply rice at Rs 2/kg to physically challenged persons on the line of BPL families. About 116 Special schools for handicapped students would now be under the school and mass education department. All the above 116 special schools would get grants from Sarva Sikshya Abhiyan (SSA) after they come under the department. About 81 un-aided schools imparting education to disabled students would also get government aid. Besides setting up an industrial training institute (ITI) for them, the state government decided to build a special womens hostel here to lodge working disabled females. Action will be taken to fill up the vacancies reserved for the disabled persons. The General administration department has identified 603 posts for the disabled persons. Out of which 12 of group A, 54 group B and 422 group C and 115 group D.

It was learnt in the meeting that 2,07,3688 disabled persons are being benefitted in Madhubabu Pension Scheme introduced by the state government. Similarly 8,918 disabled persons are getting scholarship in Banishree scholarship project. About 34 government and private buildings will be barrio pess. Quadrometric light system will be introduced in the traffic posts.

Among others Woman and Child Development Minister Pramila Mallick, Chief Secretary Bijaya Patnaik, Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister Aditya Prasad Padhi, Commissioner of Sisabled Smt Kasturi Mohapatra, Additional Development Commissioner Rabinarayan Senapaty, Secretary of Women and Child Development, Health and Family Welfare, School and Mass Education and other high level officials were present