SHILLONG: Chief Minister Mukul Sangma said on Thursday there were hurdles and constraints for the State Government to realise certain objectives in ensuring help to persons with disabilities (PWDs).
Speaking at Samajik Adhikarita Shivir at Shillong Club here on Thursday, Sangma said, “We are not being able to give support to all NGOs, (but) in spite of the constraints they are being able to provide space for further empowerment. The State Government has embarked on legislative measures to address the needs of persons with disabilities.”
Sangma and other guests distributed over 600 aids and assistive devices worth around Rs 15 lakh among the differently-abled persons at the function organised by Artificial Limbs Manufacturing Corporation of India (ALIMCO), the Health Department, the office of the Rajya Sabha MP along with the Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities under the Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. Smart canes and smart phones were distributed for the first time in Meghalaya.
Sangma said limited resources of the Government have made it difficult to take the support system forward.
However, he asserted that the social assistance would be extended to the elderly and single mothers.
“The scheme will not be confined to persons with disabilities but will be extended to old people and single mothers, among others. There are problems in getting medical certificates in some parts of the State and it should be corrected immediately,” he added.
Directing departments to reorganise while dealing with the differently-abled persons, Sangma said, “The Department of Social Welfare should make a quick review and start a single window system to enable PWDs to secure the certificates. Subsequently, it also needs to be published aggressively for people to know where to get the certificates from.”
Other dignitaries at the function included Rajya Sabha MP Wansuk Syiem as guest of honour, Health Secretary H.M Shangpliang, P&O Officer at ALIMCO-Guwahati Rajesh Das, Liaison Officer to the Rajya Sabha MP Loma N. Jyrwa and representatives of NGOs, among others.
Syiemsaid the Government has been implementing several schemes for the welfare of PWDs by using aids and appliances manufactured by ALIMCO, which is operating across the country and the North East. She informed that similar camp would be organised in Garo Hills for distribution of such aids.
