Chief Minister Harish Rawat while addressing a gathering at Sri Panchayati Udasin Akhara at Rajghat in Kankhal on Friday evening announced a string of initiatives to help the people with special needs lead a better life. He said that from now onwards, the State Government will take up the responsibility of feeding the children with special needs from birth. Besides, he announced that the divyangs would start getting pension based on certificates. A special ayog would be formed for ‘divyangs’ in the State, he added. A ‘Viklang Sewa Shivir’ was organised by the Akhara to cater to the needs of the disabled.
Speaking on the occasion, CM said, “The essence of humanism inherent in every religion teaches us that we must serve the needy. To serve the poor amounts to worshipping God, as the saints say.”
On the issue of exemption of tax levied on ashrams and dharamshalas, he said that some solution would evolve soon following discussion with the district magistrate and the city development officer.
He also slammed the Centre for depriving the State of funds due to it. “Had the Centre released some more funds we could have completed many bridges and the like by way of revamping infrastructure. As we are down with fund crunch the works on establishing a hospital in the northern part of the city have not started yet. However, we would construct a multi-speciality hospital with the assistance from the saints,” CM said.