OREANDA-NEWS. Shri Thaawarchand Gehlot, Union Minister for Social Justice & Empowerment today felicitated the beneficiaries of its various schemes in a special function held at Vigyan Bhawan, here. Speaking on the occasion after felicitating the beneficiaries Shri Gehlot said that it is the right of every individual to lead a dignified life and the present government in the past two years has strived hard to make this possible for persons with disabilities (PwDs). Informing the gathering about the various schemes of the Department, the Union minister said that a Unique Disability Identity Card to be valid across the country, will soon be made available to PwDs. Adding further, he said that the current government has brought in transparency in the distribution by using the mode of Direct Benefits Transfer. Reiterating the Department’s commitment towards empowering the persons with disabilities he pledged that Department will try to provide all necessary facilities to the sector. The Union Minister also met the beneficiaries on the dais and shared their life-changing experience after being provided with Assistive Devices by the Department . It was a heart-warming sight for the members of the audience to see Children, under the age of 5, fitted with Cochlear Implants and recently showing signs of speech, interacting with the Minister. He saluted the indomitable spirit of the beneficiaries and congratulated them for being able partners in bringing in the change in the mindset of the society towards persons with disabilities.

Shri Krishan Pal Gurjar said that Persons with Disabilities have carved a niche for themselves in the society and are climbing ladders of success overcoming all kinds of barriers. He said that the current government has emphasized on modernization of assistive aids and equipments by signing MoUs with Ottobock (Germany) and Motivation (UK). This transfer of technology under Make in India Programme will help the Department further reach out to Persons with Disabilities. He also informed the audience that the department has so far conducted more than 115 Mega Camps in this two-year period.

Secretary DEPwD, Dr Vinod Aggarwal said that the Department through National Institutes like NIVH, NIMH, NIOH and its CRCs; National Trust; National Handicapped Finance Development Corporation (NHFDC); PDUIPH; runs many Schemes and programmes for empowering the Persons with Disabilities. He said that the Department has so far approved 140 hospitals for Cochlear Implant Procedure which have successfully conducted 359 implants. He also informed that the Department has for the first time ever has issued guidelines for the certification of Autism through INCLEN diagnostic tools.