8.07 lakh disabled people issued disability certificates

Addressing a symposium on the role of the NGOs in empowered of the disabled people, state Social Welfare Minister Parveen Amanullah said that 8.07 lakh disabled persons have been issued disability certificates in Bihar out of that 4.40 lakh of them were getting disability support pension.

She said that the state government was committed to welfare and empowerment of the disabled persons for that all related schemes have been amalgamated in Mukhyamatri Vikalang Sashaktikaran Yojana, called Sambal to provide various benefits to the disabled people.

The state government has decied to hike allowance for disabled students and set up special schools for blind or visually impaired girl students to be run by the NGOs, besides centres have been set up for empowerment of the disabled persons in ten districts, Amanullah said.

In addition, the life-long shelters have been set u for deaf and dumb and mentally-challlenged children, she said, adding that day schools have been set up for blind students in two more districts.

The state government has set up the state coordination committee and state executive committee under section 13 of the disability act for protection and empowerment of the disabled persons even as provision has been made for grant of educational loan to the bright disabled students for higher education, the Social Welfare Minister said.

Besides, steps are being taken to provide loan for self-employment projects by the disabled persons, she said.