Disabilities are not a curse. If taken special care and provided with modern appliances, the persons with disabilities (PWDs) can be valuable assets for the society. Though Government schemes and facilities are galore, it is mainly the commitment of the implementers which matters the most.
And this has been rightly proved in case of Rayagada district Collector Guha Punam Tapash Kumar. Not only commitment but also her empathy towards PWDs has activated the whole administration and people’s representatives who swung into action by organising mega camps for the PWDs in Muniguda, Gunupur and Rayagada.
3365 PWDs have been assisted with facilities like Chief Minister’s Relief Fund, crutches, tri-cycles, wheel chairs, walking sticks, brail canne, hearing aids, health insurance, disability pension, income certificates, buss pass, DRI loans, National Family Benefit Scheme, CP chairs, motorized tri-cycle and Banishree scholarships n the district so far.
“This kind of effort of district administration must be appreciated.
We, as PWDs, are overwhelmed at such initiatives. Though the numbers say a lot in the recent few mega camps, there are thousands of PWDs in the villages who are getting some benefit or the other. Many others are also till today left out in inaccessible villages of Rayagada. It will be good if such camps percolate down to block and GP headquarters. The recent number exhibited by the district administration is just the tip of the ice berg. So, I have requested the Collector to allot a room for us in the collectorate specifically redressing the issues of PWDs and she has responded positively”, said Rakesh Himirika, who himself is a blind and Rayagada district president of the Odisha Bikalang Manch.