Lifts and ramps will be provided at the Collectorate and the District Court in the city for the benefit of senior citizens and physically challenged under the ‘Accessible India’ programme of the Union government, Union Minister of State for Social Justice and Employment Krishan Pal Gurjar has said.
Addressing a media conference here on Saturday, Mr. Gurjar said a total of 45 government offices in Visakhapatnam would be provided lifts and ramps in a phased manner. An amount of Rs.73 lakh was sanctioned for provision of lifts at the Collectorate in view of the large number of divyangs and senior citizens visiting the office for procuring certificates to avail of various benefits under government schemes.
Under the Central government scheme to make available cochlear implants to needy children belonging to poor families, 1,000 children were given implants in Andhra Pradesh so far. Tricycles, wheelchairs and other assisted devices were being provided to poor senior citizens and physically challenged, free of cost, by the Centre.
Run for unity
The Minister said the birth anniversary of Iron Man of India Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel would be observed with a ‘Run for Unity’ at various places in the country on Oct. 31. The Run for Unity in the city would be held at Ramakrishna Beach on that day. He appealed to youth to participate in large numbers.
BJP city president M. Nagendra, MLA P. Vishnu Kumar Raju, party leaders P.V. Narayana Rao, Narendra Prakash and others felicitated the Minister.