As many as 977 differently-abled persons, mostly senior citizens, were given 1,293 assistive devices worth ₹24 lakh at the Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana camp held here on Thursday.
The beneficiaries, identified through assessment camps conducted by ALIMCO (Artificial Limbs Manufacturing Corporation of India), were given the aids by Chief Minister V. Narayanasamy and Union Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment, Vijay Sampla, at a function organised by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment and Social Justice Department.
The aids distributed were walking sticks (170), crutches (49), walkers (81), tetra pods or tripods (85), hearing aids (345), wheelchair (34), artificial dentures (32) and spectacles (497).
Addressing the gathering, Mr. Narayanasamy said the Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana scheme of Prime Minister Narendra Modi was aimed to provide assistance to differently-abled senior citizens. “The elderly no longer have to depend on anyone. No one should feel helpless when they are old. When compared to other states, Puducherry has a strong welfare programme,” he said.
He added that the Puducherry government was implementing various schemes for the elderly and physically-challenged persons.
Explaining further he said, there are 20,952 persons with disability in the Union Territory. Of them, persons with 40 to 65% disability are given ₹1,500 every month, those with 66 to 85% are provided ₹2,000 a month and those above 86% disability are given a financial assistance of ₹3,000 per month,” he said.
Funds for schemes
In addition to this, he said, the government has allocated funds to the tune of ₹24 crore for the elderly, widows and deserted women, ₹20 crore for free rice scheme and ₹18 crore to provide financial assistance for education. “Though the government is facing severe fund crunch, we are striving to implement the welfare schemes,” he said.
The territorial administration has sought Central assistance of ₹1,800 crore and ₹2,100 crore for Puducherry and Karaikal regions respectively, to take up preservation of water bodies, the Chief Minister said.
In his presidential address, Mr. Sampla, said that the Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana will be implemented in two districts in every state. “According to the 2011 census, there are 10.38 crore elderly persons in the country. Since majority of them are abandoned by their children, this scheme aims to provide senior citizens belonging to below poverty line and suffering from any age related disability with assistedliving devices that can restore near normalcy in their bodily functions, overcoming disability,” he said.
Member of Parliament (Lok Sabha) R.Radhakrishnan and Surendra Singh, Joint Secretary were present.
‘Demonetisation strapped UT of funds’
Welfare Minister M. Kandasamy on Thursday called upon the Central government to extend financial help to Puducherry to implement welfare schemes. Stating that demonetisation and ban on liquor shops on highways has hit the state exchequer, he said that they were struggling to provide free rice and even pension.
“We are even struggling to pay salaries to employees and run industries. Though the Chief Minister was able to get the Smart City project for Puducherry, there is no fund to implement it. Both the state and Central governments should work together towards development. I request the Central government to provide the required funds to the Union Territory of Puducherry. This will help us in fast implementation of welfare schemes,” he said.
