Mainstreaming disadvantaged groups a national priority: Selja

Union Minister Kumari Selja today said the UPA government was committed to inclusive growth and a major component of it was mainstreaming the disadvantaged groups,as well as who were physically and mentally challenged.
Considering the special needs of the differently-abled, the government formed a separate Department of Disability Affairs, the Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment told reporters here.
Selja, who represents the Ambala constituency of Haryana in the Lok Sabha, said the focus is on physical, economic and educational rehabilitation of the differently-abled.
The minister today launched a composite programme of all schemes of her Ministry for people belonging to Schedule Castes, Backward Classes, Safai Karamcharis and for the differently-abled.

Selja said people belonging to the disadvantaged groups were availing in large numbers the benefits of various schemes of her ministry. On the occasion, the Artificial Limbs Manufacturing Corporation distributed aids and appliances.
Other events included distribution of self-employment loan and cheques, skill training offers, awareness generation of government schemes through mobile vans and flagging-off of the Badhte Kadam programme of the National Trust.
Haryana Governor Jagannath Pahadia, while praising the efforts of the ministry, said the programme would be complete only when each and every disadvantaged child is included as a beneficiary.
Pahadia said since the state resources were limited the government should involve NGOs to expand the schemes' reach and for a more effective delivery.