Chittorgarh and Jhalawar District Administration received President’s Disability Day National Award for creating a barrier-free environment for all-round development of Divyangs…
After setting up milestones in skill development, e-governance, solar energy production and Swachhta Mission, Rajasthan government achieved a novel accomplishment in empowering the physically disabled population of the state. Three-years of inexorable efforts put in by different state departments was finally paid off with three Disability Day National Awards awarded by President Pranab Mukherjee. Rajasthan SC and Tribal Finance and Development Corporation, Chittorgarh and Jhalawar administrations received these awards on World Disability Day (December 3) last week.
Rajasthan Basks in the Glory of Disability Day National Award
Jhalawar district administration (municipal corporation, urban bodies, government health department and public sector entities) were rewarded for creating a favourable socio-economic environment for the disabled members of society. Chittorgarh was awarded for providing outstanding rehabilitation services and financial security to physically challenged personnel. Rajasthan SC and Tribal Finance and Development Corporation received the price for the Best State Channelizing Agency for funding innovative disability programmes and policies.
The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment organized this award ceremony on Saturday. District collectors Inderjeet Singh (Chittorgarh), Jitendra Kumar Soni (Jhalawar) and state social justice and empowerment director Ravi Jain received the awards on behalf of their groups.
Chittorgarh Sets Up a Landmark for Other States to Follow
People suffering from natal or accidental disabilities experience discrimination, shaming and pitiful looks on a daily basis. Being physically unfit, they sometimes find it hard to adapt education and professional challenges. Raje government had introduced several social policies to make the said members self-dependent and confident. While other districts are putting in impressive efforts in this direction, Chittorgarh led the race with successful implementation of most policies.
Local authorities have set up ‘Divrang Centre for help’ at sub-divisions, Gram Panchayats and district administration office. These offices aim to provide direct benefits of government-run schemes in the form of free transport passes, loans and employment opportunities.
District administration ran door-to-door campaigns to track 19,000 handicapped people in the district. Out of these, about 18,038 folks were given financial help and 320 were provided a loan for carrying out economic activities. The total budget allotted for this project included Rs. 91.57 lakhs. About 42 lakh rupees were separately raised to benefit 882 disabled members. This fund was granted for motorised wheelchairs and prosthetic organs. One of the MPs have donated Rs. 20 lakh and two local MLAs contributed Rs. 10 lakh each to this mission.
District collector Inderjeet Singh sees this as a positive step towards uplifting social strata. “The whole idea is to make them (the disabled) independent and bring them into the mainstream“, he said. It’s a commendable step taken by Rajasthan districts. We wish them good luck for their future endeavours.
