CM Himanta lays stress on tapping potential of Divyangjans

GUWAHATI: Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Thursday said that 'specially abled children' hold immense possibilities and the State Government has taken several initiatives for their empowerment and use them as an important component of State's human resources.

Speaking at a National Health Fest for Divyang children and athletes on the occasion of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav - Return to Play inclusion revolution - here, the Chief Minister said that State Government under the Deendayal Divyang Pension Scheme is paying Rs 1,000 per month to more than one lakh beneficiaries. Under the Deendayal Disabled Rehabilitation Scheme, several Divyang people have been benefitted. Moreover, specially abled people have been given more than 1.20 lakh UDID cards in the State. Scholarships were also given to the specially abled students.

The Chief Minister requested the parents of specially abled children below six years of age with hearing difficulty to avail the benefits of State Government's special scheme 'Sneha Sparsha' to get free cochlear implant for their kids to lead a normal life. He also said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi immediately after taking over power, described the specially abled people as 'Divyangjans'. Sarma said that the specially abled people are in no way weak as they are indispensible to implement the Government's objective of 'inclusive growth'.

Organized by Special Olympic Bharat, Social Welfare Department, Health and Family Welfare Department, the National Health Fest is an effort to provide consultations on dental health and other health parameters of the people with intellectual disability. The event was organized in 75 cities across the country with the projected participation of more than 75,000 children and athletes with intellectual disability. In Assam, the event organized in Guwahati and Jorhat also provided health consultations and vaccines for COVID-19 pandemic to the specially abled children.

The Chief Minister also said that he felt really happy to attend the programme which has given him an opportunity to spend time with the pure souls who, according to him, "hold immense potential". Referring to the success stories of specially abled artistes like Sudha Chandran, Rabindra Jain, mountaineer Arunima Sinha, Paralympic medal winners Sumit Antil, Avani Lekhara, Bhavina Patel etc. Chief Minister Sarma said that the lives and achievements of these personalities are the testimonies of the indomitable power of specially abled people.

Synchronizing with the occasion, Sarma also presented mementoes to some specially abled athletes for their good show in some international events, including the Olympics.

Social Welfare Minister Ajanta Neog also spoke on the occasion, highlighting various schemes of the Social Welfare Department. She said that it is the duty of each member of society to ensure that the Divyanjans can lead a dignified life. She laid stress on the fact that along with maintaining their health, the Government has taken several initiatives to nurture the potential of specially abled persons in the sporting arena.

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