A large number of identified differently–abled persons are deprived of several facilities in Baleswar. Most importantly, many of them are not still aware of the schemes and facilities meant for them.
Sources said that as many as 68 per cent of identified differently -abled are deprived of pension. In the district as per record while there are 70,736 such persons with different disabilities, 22,741 are availing pensions which is about mere 32 per cent.
Similarly, on the education scholarship front, only a few students are getting the scholarship called Vanishree. Only 161 of them could avail the scholarship in year 2019-20 out of 1, 940 applicants.
Similarly, while over 40 per cent are allowed with bus and train fare concession, yet a major chuck is deprived of the facility. They are either ignorant of such facility or applied for the same for months but not yet received. Around 4,000 disabled are availing bus concession pass facility while the exact figure of those availing train concession is not known.
Sources said that a majority of the Divyangs live in the rural patches. For the Divyangs in the district, nine special schools have been opened with 92 teachers and 527 students.
Pertinent to mention that most of the Government establishments still lack special facilities such as ramps and toilets. As a result, the differently- abled suffer a lot during commuting to their workplaces.