SHILLONG, Sep 27: An aspiring Meghalaya-based entrepreneur, Justipassing Ryntathiang, on Monday received a modern wheelchair from Chief Minister Conrad Sangma as a token of encouragement to further the former’s entrepreneurial aspirations. Ryntathiang, a person with disability, attracted the chief minister’s attention after he joined PRIME Cohort-2 batch of Entrepreneurs recently.
Taking note of the difficulties Ryntathiang is faced with to cope with his day-to-day life, the chief minister had announced of mobility support to him by the government.
Expressing optimism that Ryntathiang will act an exemplar for other people with disability in state, Conrad is also hopeful that the mobility support, which was brought under the Chief Minister’s Special Grant, will help Ryntathiang in his entrepreneurial ventures.
The chief minister, during the day, also informed that if there is scope, the government will contemplate ways to provide similar wheelchairs to others in need.
Ryntathiang, a 33-year-old entrepreneur from Mawblei, makes local items such as mura (bamboo stool).
Reacting to the gift, an elated Ryntathiang expressed hope that his way of moving will now be less demanding. “I will need help since I don’t know how to use it (wheelchair). I think it will take time to get a hang of it,” Ryntathiang said.