SHILLONG: Amway Opportunity Foundation (AOF) and Bethany Society have jointly set up two computer training centres for the visually impaired which were inaugurated by Information and Technology Minister Ampareen Lyngdoh here on Tuesday.
While one of the centres with nine computers will be based at Roilang Livelihood Academy, the other, equipped with 11 computers, will be at Jyoti Sroat School.
Speaking on the occasion Lyngdoh said, “Governments have meted out step-motherly treatment to the specially abled in the past. We should start pulling our socks and take necessary measures and steps to ensure that these special citizens are given the right attention.”
She added, “Meghalaya has gone a long way in this agenda and we still have to go miles before we can say that people with disabilities are given the correct attention.”
Lyngdoh observed that there are issues encountered by people with disabilities regarding employment opportunities and infrastructural facilities provided to them in public spaces.
“We still need to ensure that our roads have proper ramps, pavements are adequately constructed to ensure that people with disabilities feel a part of the community,” she said.
Ensuring that the state government will give the people with disabilities the necessary privilege to empower them she said, “We have a huge challenge ahead but the government will not shy away from its responsibilities.”
Expressing her gratitude to Amway, Lyngdoh said that she is grateful to such MNCs that have focused on assisting the people with disabilities.
Bertha Dkhar, senior coordinator of Bethany Society, said that computer skills will pave the way for employability and make the people with disabilities more efficient.
