Dharamsala: Virbhadra Singh, Chief Minister said that State Government would consider replication of old age homes with disabled hostels model all over the State and would urge private bus operators to share the social welfare responsibility towards disabled, freedom fighters and other eligible sections of the society. He said that the State Government would be providing free education to disabled with scholarship besides additional scholarships for disabled hostlers.
While addressing the 2nd meeting of Disabled welfare board, Chief Minister said that the State had 25, 416 eligible disabled who had been provided social welfare pension and about Rs. 6 crore were being spent over the same annually to facilitate the targetted section.
He said that free education facilities were being provided to disabled upto the highest level alongwith scholarships ranging between Rs. 150 to Rs. 450 per month while the disabled hostlers were being provided scholarships ranging between Rs. 300 to Rs. 900.
Chief Minister said that State Government was considering setting up of a rehabilitation center for mentally challenged persons near Shimla where all required facilities would be made available to such people and efforts would be made for their rehabilitation. He said that the State Government had enhanced the disabled marriage grant from Rs. 8000 to Rs. 15,000.
CM said that Sate Government had provided 3 percent reservation to disabled in the Government jobs. He said that a Special Employment Exchange Cell had been set up in the exchanges and grievances of the disabled were being heard on second Monday of every month and all departments have been directed to redress the same by according top priority.
Singh informed said that 2,192 identified disabled children were being provided ‘Home based Education’ which included 420 children being educated by NGOs. He said that best efforts were being made to ensure that no disabled was deprived of education.
