Chief Minister Raman Singh on Friday distributed awards to the differently-abled persons on the occasion of 'International Day of Persons with Disabilities'.
He wished them bright days ahead and stated that physically handicapped citizens also have similar talent like those of normal persons.
It is the bounden duty of the society to encourage them, boost their confidence and see that they are self-reliant, the Chief Minister stated.
It may be mentioned here that Chhattisgarh State Social Welfare Department had launched “Kshitij Apaar Sambhavnai” integrated project for the welfare of physically handicapped.
Singh announced several welfare schemes on the occasion. The toppers in the 10th and 12th Board exams will receive Rs 5,000 and Rs 2,000 per annum as financial incentives and those who top in ITI, Polytechnic and Graduation examinations will receive Rs 6,000 per annum.
He appreciated the physically handicapped students who presented cultural programmes and encouraged them to participate in future also.
The Chief Minister announced that Rs 20,000 will be awarded to the handicapped students who clear the Civil Services Preliminary Examinations of the UPSC, Rs 30,000 will be given to students who pass the Main examination of the Civil Services and Rs 50,000 will be presented to the students who are selected in Civil Services of the UPSC. Anybody selected to the Civil Services will get Rs 1 lakh in total, he said.
Singh also raised the powers of District Collectors to sanction Rs 50 lakh per annum for the cause of Destitutes' Fund for the Physically Handicapped. Earlier the fund was of Rs 25 lakh.
He launched the website of the Social Welfare Department on the occasion.
The Chief Minister distributed battery-operated Tri-cycles to 250 physically handicapped persons and five modern wheelchairs to five beneficiaries.
Chhattisgarh Assembly Speaker Gaurishankar Agrawal presided over the ceremony.
Meanwhile, Social Welfare Minister Ramsheela Sahu, Agriculture Minister Brijmohan Agrawal, PWD Minister Rajesh Munat, Parliamentary Secretary Roopkumari Choudhary, Chairman of Chhattisgarh Textbook Corporation Devji Bhai Patel, Chairman of Chhattisgarh Finance and Development Corporation Sarla Jain, Mayor Raipur Municipal Corporation Pramod Dubey, Chairman Raipur Development Authority Sanjay Shrivastava, President of Raipur Jila Panchayat Sharda Verma, Speaker of Raipur Municipal Corporation Prafulla Vishwakarma were present as special guests of the occasion.
On the occasion, Kondagaon and Dhamatri district were jointly awarded as best districts for effective implementation of provisions under Persons with Disability Act 1995.
The Collector of Kondagaon district Shikha Rajput Tiwari and Collector Dhamtari district Bheem Singh received these awards.
In this State-level award ceremony, Music Teacher Mukesh Shyam Karm of Rajnandgaon was awarded best employee award in visually impaired category, Assistant Grade-II in Bilaspur Rajendra Prasad received best employee ward in hearing impaired category and Assistant Grade-III of Durg District Panchayat Hulsi Sahu was awarded best employee award in category of persons with bone deformity.
Moreover, a teacher from Kondagaon Thakur Ram Verma and Cluster Coordination of Rajnandgaon Doman Verma were also awarded for their excellent work.
The Chief Minister said that every year since December 1991 International Day for Persons with disabilities is celebrated to motivate people with disabilities and encourage them to polish their talent, art and knowledge.
He said that Chhattisgarh is the first state, where battery-operated motorised cycles have been distributed to physically disabled beneficiaries.
On the occasion, Chief Minister also visited exhibition of products and artifacts made by disable persons.
He praised the paintings made by physically disabled children.
The ceremony was also addressed by Chhattisgarh Assembly Speaker Gaurishankar Agrawal and Social Welfare Minister Ramsheela Sahu.
The cultural programme organised on the occasion was marked by dance performance of Sudha Chandran, and also singing performance of Zakir Hussain of Korba and the performance of students of Government School of Visual and Hearing Impaired Raipur namely Roopvarsha Kerketta and Sarita Dewangan.
Singh also gave away prizes to winners of State-level cultural programme and state-level sports tournament. Social Welfare Department Secretary Dinesh Kumar Shrivastav delivered welcome address and vote of thanks was proposed by Director Kiran Kaushal.
Raipur District Collector Thakur Ram Singh and a large number of persons with disabilities and their relatives were also present.