As many as 589 panchayat-level organisers and 24 block-level coordinators have been appointed under the ‘Vazhikattum' scheme, a special guidance programme for differently abled persons, in the district.
The differently abled welfare organisers and coordinators, appointed in association with eight non-governmental organisations, would be involved in prevention, identification, early intervention and implementation of the rehabilitation measures of the State and Central government.
The eight NGOs have been earmarked areas of operation.
Among the organisers appointed, 396 were differently abled persons, 109 were relatives or siblings of differently abled persons and 84 persons from below the poverty line families. One organiser each would be assigned to a village panchayat or other local bodies with a population of 6,000.
A three-day training for the organisers concluded in the city on Friday with Collector Jayashree Muralidharan releasing a handbook for the organisers.
To start with, the organisers would conduct a survey to identify differently abled persons and verify all of them have them have been issued national identity cards.
Those without the cards would be issued the same immediately. The organisers will be paid a consolidated pay of Rs.750 a month while the coordinators would get Rs.2,000 a month, according to R.Shyamala, District Differently Abled Welfare Officer.
The Collector also distributed assistive devices to differently abled persons, including four special chairs for those affected by cerebral palsy, wheel chairs and hearing aids.
She distributed teaching aids worth Rs.10,000 to the Early Intervention Centre for Hearing Impaired and teaching and learning material to the Early Intervention Centre for Mentally Retarded. The regional-level Plus Two topper among students affected by muscular dystrophy, Hari Prasanth of National Higher Secondary School, Mayiladuthurai, was given cash award of Rs.10,000 on behalf of the District Welfare Fund Committee on the occasion. The student had secured 1,082 marks in the Plus Two examination.
The Collector felicitated differently abled children from the city who had excelled in the Special Olympics.
