Benefits were distributed to 323 people at the third phase camp of ‘Janasabha’ held by Minister for Panchayats M.K. Muneer in the Kozhikode South legislative constituency on Saturday. The Minister inaugurated the camp at BEM Girls Higher Secondary School.
Benefits under the ‘Ashwasakiranam’ project of the Social Security Mission, which provides for a monthly allowance of Rs.400 for caregivers of bedridden patients, were given to 162 people. The allowance since May 2013 was handed over to them on Saturday. Thirty persons received Rs.1 lakh each from the Kerala State Women’s Development Corporation for self-employment.
Aid valued at Rs.2,40,000 was handed over to 30 persons affected by natural disasters. BPL ration cards were distributed to 12 persons, while Rs.10,000 each was handed over to four persons under the National Family Benefit Scheme.
Free supportive aids, including prosthetic legs, calipers and wheelchairs, were distributed to over 80 physically challenged persons from the district under the aegis of the Kerala State Handicapped Persons’ Welfare Corporation (KSHPWC). .
The artificial limbs and supportive appliances were brought here from the KSHPWC-approved production unit in Thiruvananthapuram.
A six-member team from the unit came to the city to finetune the products to the satisfaction and comfort of the selected users.
KSHPWC’s office-bearers said over 20 persons suffering from aural and visual impairments also received supportive aids at the camp. Altogether Rs.4.50 lakh was spent on the scheme, they added.
“In this fiscal, we covered not less than 500 people in Kozhikode district alone. This was in addition to all other welfare schemes offered to them for various self-employment ventures and rehabilitation projects,” said K.K. Asokan, manager of the KSHPWC’s Regional Information Centre at Chakkorathukulam.
Rs.12 lakh spent
He said the government had so far spent Rs.12 lakh to supply artificial aids to the needy persons.
