State level International Day of Persons with Disability was organised today at Malout where 12 disable persons were given State awards and loan amount worth Rs 57 lac was given to 17 persons by Minister for Social Justice Empowerment and Minorities, Social Security, Women and Child Development Dr Baljeet Kaur.
Speaking during the occasion the minister also announced that Conveyance allowance for disable government employees is also re-stored today.She stated that this scheme was discontinued during the implementation of Sixth Pay Commission last year.
The minister also announced that from now onwards all government disabled employees with up to 40 percent disability can seek transfers near their home-town. Previously this scheme was only for people with 60 percent disability.
After watching the kids with different disabilities dancing to the tunes of Punjabi songs the minister said, “Punjab Government has focussed its attention to acknowledge the issues faced by disabled (PwD) in state”. She added that her government is committed to offer a platform to disable to not only boost their level of confidence but also make them aware of more employment opportunities.
Appreciating the efforts made disabled in the field of uplifting other disabled people she said “their ability is stronger than their disability”.Director Madhavi Kataria also spoke during the occasion and talked about the rights of disabled and threw light upon the welfare schemes offered by state government.Artificial limbs worth Rs 26 lac were also distributed by Artificial Limbs Manufacturing Corporation (ALIMCO) to 219 persons.
Among others who were also present during the occasion were MLA Lambi Gurmeet Khuddian, Deputy Commissioner Vineet Kumar, Malout SDM Kanwarjit Singh, Deputy Director Santosh Virdi, DSSO Jasvir Kaur,Chairman Planning Board Sukhjinder Kauni, AAP District President Jagdev Baam, AAP Block president Karamjit Sharma, Kaka Udaang, Satgurdev Singh Pappi and other prominent personalities of the area.