Newmai News Network Imphal | March 25 Manipur Chief Minister, N Biren Singh said that under the "Chief Ministergi Sotharabasingi Tengbang(CMST) scheme" around 3000 persons having a disability of 80% or more have been provided Care-Giver allowances/Maintenance Grant to Persons of Rs. 1,500 per month by the State Government till now. ] Biren stated this at the “Samajik Adhikarita Shivir” and free distribution of aids and assistive devices to persons with disabilities (Divyangjan) held at Khuman Lampak Indoor Statdium, Imphal today. The Chief Minister appealed the families of the differently-abled persons to enroll or get registered the differently-abled persons at Social Welfare Department and office of Deputy Commissioners to get the benefits under various schemes of the government. He said that if anybody faced problems regarding any schemes, then they should redress their grievances to the toll-free number 181 of Social Welfare Department or directly contact the Grievance Cell of the Chief Minister’s Secretariat. He maintained that the vision of the visionary leader Prime Minister Narendra Modi is to provide quality of life to all the citizens of the country and to uplift the poor, needy and differently-abled persons to have an inclusive development in the country. The Chief Minister said that the new BJP led government in the State has launched various welfare schemes such as CMHT, CMST etc for the welfare and development of the people. The persons with disabilities are being provided soft loans to take up economically viable employment opportunities and self-employment. Scholarships are being provided to the students with disabilities and free travel and concession to persons with disabilities are being given to them for free travelling in public transport under Manipur State Transport (MST). The Chief Minister further stated that around 70,000 people have been enrolled under Chief Ministergi Hakshelgi Tengbang(CMHT) till now. He appealed the people of the State to take benefits of every scheme which has been launched by the government for the welfare of the people. Union Minister for State for Social Justice and Empowerment Krishan Pal Gurjar said that it is the instruction of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi that every Union Minister should visit the North-eastern States in every 3 months. He said that Narendra Modi is the first Prime Minister of India to allocate or earmark 10 percent in the budget for the development of Northeast India. A Universal Identity Card would be provided for the persons with disabilities soon and such card would be valid and use throughout the country to get any facility or benefits under any scheme for differently-abled persons. The Union Minsiter mentioned that the NDA government has already increased the reservation system for the persons with disabilities in employment from 3% to 4% and in education from 5% to 7%. The Union Minister announced that a new welfare scheme would be launched for the mute and deaf children of the country. Under the scheme, every mute and deaf child would be getting financial benefit of Rs. 6 lakhs. He mentioned that around 11,000 deaf and mute children have been provided hearing aids and other implants. The previous government had recognised only 7 types of disabilities, however the new NDA government has recognised 21 types of disabilities to get welfare schemes launched by the government, he added. A new scheme for persons above 60 years of age of BPL families has been launched, he added. Manipur Minister for Health and Family Welfare L. Jayantakumar Singh said that it the responsibility of the government to provide meaningful life to the citizens of the country. Taking advantage of the occasion, he appealed the people to get vaccinated the children of the aged group of 9 months to 19 years for measles and rubella on 26th March, 2018 at nearby Health Centres and Sub-Centres of the State. On the occasion, Manipur Minister for Social Welfare Nemcha Kipgen appealed the parents and families of differently abled persons to encourage their children in positive manner and also to focus on the positive and special abilities that have been provided to the differently-abled persons. She further appealed the people to come forward to promote the rights and well-being of differently-abled persons in all spheres of society and development. She said that the differently-abled should be a part of our development so as to promote strong society for all. The differently-abled persons should be treated at par with all of us as they are very much part and parcel of our society, she added. She urged all the stakeholders including representative organisations, academic institutions to work as a team so as to achieve the development goals for all our differently-abled people of the country. The dignitaries handed over aids and other devices such as the hearing aids, smart phones and wheel chairs to various beneficiaries today. It may be mentioned that free aids and the devices would be distributed to around 1900 beneficiaries. The function was organised by Artificial Limbs Manufacturing Corporation of India (ALIMCO), Kanpur in association with Department of Social Welfare, Government of Manipur and Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (Divyangjan), Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India. Secretary of Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India Shakuntala Gamlin, Joint Secretary Dr. Praboth Seth, Joint Secretary Dolly Chakravathy, Commissioner Social Welfare, Government of Manipur H. Deleep Singh, Secretary to CM N. Ashok Kumar, CMD ALIMCO Sarin and others attended the function.
