Composite Regional Centre, Srinagar (J&K) functioning under aegis of the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD), Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, Government of India organised a three-day special mega awareness cum assessment and distribution camp for AIDS and assistive devices recently. Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment, GoI, Thaawarchand Gehlot was the chief guest for the event. Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment, Krishan Pal Gurjar also graced the occasion.
Speaking on the occasion of the 101st Mega Camp conducted by the Ministry in the past one and a half-year period, Gehlot expressed his happiness over successfully organising first such mega camp in Jammu & Kashmir and appreciated district collector Yasha Mudgal and the staff of composite regional centre, Srinagar, for braving the odds of nature to successfully organise this camp despite prevailing adverse weather conditions. This camp, which is also one of the largest social welfare camps ever to be held in the history of J&K witnessed a houseful presence of PwD beneficiaries, who turned out in large numbers at the Shawket Ali Stadium in the border district of Baramulla. Announcing the establishment of a Drug de-addiction centre Gehlot said that a special cultural programme for children with disabilities in Baramulla will be conceptualised with support from Government of India. He added that children with hearing and speech impairment will be screened for the innovative cochlear implant surgery and high end Assistive devices manufactured by AlIMCO in collaboration with Ottobock (Germany), will also soon be provided to needy beneficiaries in the border district though CRC Srinagar.
Krishan Pal Gurjar in his address appreciated the work of various NGOs, Indian Army personnel, volunteers and departments like Indian System of Medicine (ISM) in J&K for wholeheartedly supporting this noble cause. He informed that nearly 1,200 people and children with disabilities will receive approximately 2,000 free-of-cost Aids and assistive devices over the period of this three-day special mega camp.
Awanish Kumar Awasthi, joint secretary, DEPwD, under whose supervision this hugely popular ADIP Schemes have been successfully implemented, informed the gathering that the Unique Disability Identity Card (UDID) Project will kick-start from Baramulla District for the state of J&K. He added that UDID project to be implemented this year will be another major step of the government towards inclusion and empowerment of the mega camp conducted by CRC Srinagar — in collaboration with the Government of Jammu and Kashmir and other National Institutes under the DEPwD witnessed the distribution of devices such as BTE hearing aid (750), M R TlM kits of NIMH (336), daisy player (24), crutches (300), braille kit (100), MSIED kit (100), walking stick (50), wheel chair for adult and child (120), low vision devices (100), smart phone with keyboard (5), folding cane (10), smart cane (22), splint C/Foot (20). The Department of Health Services J&K conducted free medical check-ups/consultations with the Department of Indian System of Medicine (ISM) J&K providing free medical check-ups and medicine to the three-day camp will also play an important role in spreading awareness about various services, schemes devised by the Central government for empowering the persons with disabilities and for their inclusion in the mainstream.
MlA Baramulla, Javed Hassan Baig; MlA Gulmarg Mohd. Abbas Wani, Brigade Commander Brigadier Yogesh Chaudhary, Mir Bashir, Nodal officer, CRC Srinagar and senior officials from district administration, Baramulla were also present on the occasion.