Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment Thawar Chand Gehlot has provided in-principle approval for constructing a 500-seater hostel for physically challenged students at Raipur.
He was participating in a workshop held for creating awareness about ‘Bharat Sugam Abhiyaan’, here on Saturday.
Chief Minister Raman Singh who was also present at the function announced that the scholarships given to differently-abled students by the State Social Welfare Department will be doubled.
While appreciating the efforts Chief Minister towards the rehabilitation of differently able people in Chhattisgarh, Union Minister Gehlot said that proposals for barrier-free access to State Government buildings and 500-seater hostel at Raipur will be sanctioned as soon as the proposals are sent to the Centre.
He lauded the opening of Rs 50-crore Composite Rehabilitation Center for Handicapped at Rajnandgaon.
Speaking on the occasion the Chief Minister said that identity cards will be issued to the 6.25 lakh differently able people living in the State after conducting a survey in the next one year.
“We have decided to make all public and government buildings ‘access easy’ for the differently able persons across State by December 2016,” he said.
He instructed the district Collectors to prepare master plan in this connection so that it could be sent to the Centre.
“The districts Collectors are being authorized to spend up to Rs 1 crore on for making government buildings ‘access easy’, the Chief Minister announced.
The Union Minister Gehlot also provided in principle sanction to the 500-seater hostel for the handicapped. Chief Secretary Vivek Dhand presented a detailed report on steps taken for the welfare and rehabilitation of physically challenged persons in Chhattisgarh.