Though there are a number of welfare schemes set up by the Central government and various States for the welfare of disabled people, studies have shown that a large number of them are not aware of many of the schemes, and find it difficult to access them.
In order to enable access and increase awareness, GLRA India, an NGO, has partnered with the European Union (EU) for a project in five backward districts across four States in the country.
“The objective of our project is to empower beneficiaries, create associations of disabled people and provide support in any manner for them to be able to access information and government aid,” said J. Ravichandran, chief executive officer of GLRA India, at a press meet on Tuesday.
The project, ‘Sammalit Vikas Jankari’, will cover East Champaran and Kaimur in Bihar, Banaskantha in Gujarat, Barwani in Madhya Pradesh, and Balangir in Odisha.
Funded by the EU to the tune of Rs. 7 crore, the project aims to cover 2.7 lakh persons with disabilities and their families over the next five years, he said.
“This project will enable us to look at the underprivileged amongst the underprivileged,” said Oswald Bellinger, medical advisor, DAHW (GLRA in Germany).
The initiative envisages a 30 per cent increase in the number of persons with disabilities getting their monthly maintenance and participating in the national rural employment guarantee scheme.
Neeradha Chandramohan, director, National Institute for Empowerment of People with Multiple Disabilities, as well as officials from collaborating NGOs participated in the event.
