Disabled to get land for self-employment

HimVani

Dharamsala: Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh on Monday said the state government would consider replication of old-age homes on the pattern of hostels for disabled all over the state. He said 25 metres of land was being provided to disabled for self-employment ventures for temporary shed construction at 5% of market price or double of five years’ average, whichever would be less.
Addressing the second meeting of the Disabled Welfare Board in Dharamsala, he said the state government would be providing free education to disabled with scholarships, besides additional scholarships for disabled hostlers.
The Chief Minister said the state had 25,416 eligible disabled people who had been provided social welfare pension, and about Rs 6 crore were being spent over the same annually to facilitate the targeted section. Virbhadra Singh said the government had constructed a disabled home combined with old-age home at Dari near Dharamsala with a view to provide company of young disabled to aged people who could guide them in their future endeavours so that the young disabled were benefited with their experiences.
He said that orders had been issued to earmark seats for disabled in all buses in the state. He said the government would also consider simplification of loan procedure to disabled besides lowering the rate of interest to disabled loanees.
Virbhadra Singh said the government was constructing disabled hostels and old-age homes all over the state to facilitate them with appropriate boarding and lodging facilities. He said free education facilities were being provided to disabled up to the highest level along with scholarships ranging between Rs 150 and Rs 450 per month while the disabled hostlers were being provided scholarships ranging between Rs 300 and Rs 900. He said that free education facilities were also available to disabled in ITIs, polytechnics and other vocational courses.
Chief Minister said the process of filling up backlog of disabled in government departments was being expedited as the Government had provided 3% reservation to disabled in government jobs, which was being implemented in letter and spirit. He said a Special Employment Exchange Cell had been set up in the exchanges and grievances of the disabled were being heard on second Monday of every month.