SHILLONG: Meghalaya’s Social Welfare Minister, Kyrmen Shylla said that there were significant challenges that affected the disability and rehabilitation services in the North East while lack of accessible information about disability and rehabilitation services was also another key issue that made it difficult to plug the gaps and overcome challenges.
He was speaking at the national seminar on “Strategic plan for rehabilitation of persons with disabilities in North Eastern states” at the State Convention Center here on Thursday.
The seminar was organised by the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India in collaboration with state government’s department of Social Welfare, Office of the Commissioner of PWDs.
Pointing to the measures initiated by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Shylla said, “One of the measures is the setting up of seven National institutes to effectively deal with the multi-dimensional problem of the disabled population in each major area of disability.”
He added that the setting up of the institutes would be a great opportunity for the youngsters of the country to undergo training in disability rehabilitation courses so as to enable them to provide the rehabilitation services to those in need of the services.
“He added that the prime objective of the seminar is to prepare a strategic plan for the North Eastern region for the next five years and hoped that the seminar will promote an understanding of disability issues and mobilise support for the well being of the persons with disabilities,” he said.