Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has announced to increase incentive money on marriage of disabled couples from Rs50,000 to Rs1 lakh. This would be in addition to Rs25,000 given under Mukhyamantri Kanyadan Yojana. Giving consent to proposal by the Union Ministry for Social Justice to allot land at Bhopal for composite regional centre for welfare of disabled persons, he announced to make available requisite land from the State Government.
The CM was addressing a district-level camp for assistance to disabled persons held at Raisen by Union Ministry for Social Justice and district administration on Saturday. In the camp, aides were distributed to 4,700 disabled persons. In terms of number of beneficiaries, this was the biggest district level camp in the country.
Referring to welfare schemes for disabled persons, the Chief Minister said they have been given six per cent reservation in Government service. Their children are being given scholarships. It has been decided to open special industrial training institutes for empowering disabled persons to get jobs and start self-employment. Urging the Union Government for holding such camps in every district of the State, he assured all possible assistance by the State Government for this.
Chouhan said that disabled persons can lead normal life with a little assistance. Service to them is the biggest humanitarian service. Minister for External Affairs Sushma Swaraj lauded Union Ministry for Social Justice and Raisen district administration for holding the massive camp for assistance to disabled persons. She said that use of word handicapped for disability has been abolished at international level since such people considered able differently. She said that one can overcome his physical disabilities by developing skills.
Union Social Justice Minister Thawar Chand Gehlot said that the Central Government is committed to complete socio-economic upliftment of disabled persons. Modern aides are being developed for them and financial assistance extended to move ahead in life. He said that disabled persona are part and parcel of human resources. Central Government is extending them maximum opportunity to display their skills and talents. As a result, disabled persons have brought laurels to India in sports and other fields.
Union Minister of State for Social Justice Krishna Pal Singh informed that Disabled Empowerment Department has been constituted under the ministry, which is running various institutions and corporations for welfare of the disabled. He dwelt in detail on disabled persons' welfare schemes.