High priority to differently-abled in TRS rule: Deputy Chief Minister

Separate hostels established for physically challenged: Assembly Speaker

Warangal: The State government has been according priority to the welfare of differently-abled persons, said Deputy Chief Minister Dr T Rajaiah and Assembly Speaker S Madhusudhana Chary.

They called upon the persons with disabilities to be confident and achieve self-reliance for which the government would extend all possible support. The first step towards it was enhancing the pension amount being given to them.

Speaking at a programme organised in Hanamkonda on Wednesday marking ‘World Disabled Day’ the Deputy Chief Minister said 45,125 physically challenged persons were identified officially in the district to extend pension benefits.

The TRS government enhanced the pension amount to Rs 1,500 per month. If there were any beneficiaries left out, they would also be included in the beneficiaries list. The officials concerned have been working on it for the past four months. “There might be a minor delay but all eligible persons would be given pensions,” he asserted. He suggested to the public to maintain good health practices to avoid disability saying “If enough care is taken during pregnancy, disability can be avoided,” he said.

Speaker Madhusudhana Chary said the government has established separate hostels for differently-abled students and is providing free education from first standard to degree, besides financial assistance to start business units.

With the support of Telangana Physically Challenged Cooperative Society, artificial limbs, hearing aids, tri-cycles, Braille slates, audio equipment and others were being provided to support to the differently-abled persons. He alleged that the previous governments have neglected the disabled groups. He said that the current regime has been giving priority to them. He appealed to the persons with disabilities to strive to excel in their life by making use of government support.

Addressing the gathering, the Joint Collector Pausumi Basu told differently-abled persons to maintain health and take interest in education. Education and health play important role in the growth of any person in order to overcome difficulties.

MLA D Vinay Bhaskar wanted appointment of speech therapy teachers to assist deaf and dump persons and also to set up special wing for them at physically challenged support centres.

Child Welfare committee chairman L Anitha Reddy said that the disabled persons need encouragement and not sympathy.