The second regional sports complex for persons with disabilities in the country and first in South India will be established in Visakhapatnam, Union Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment Thaavar Chand Gehlot said.
Inspired by the success of Indian teams in Paralympics and World Cup cricket for visually impaired, the Centre has decided to create five regional centres which would have sport facilities for the differently-abled, including residential options, the Minister announced speaking at a mega camp organised to distribute aids to differently-abled persons here on Friday.
Apart from the sports complex, a National institute for rehabilitation of persons with mental disabilities would be established in Nellore District, he said asking the State Government to allocate land for the projects. State Minister for HRD G. Srinivasa Rao said that he along with the district administration had identified a 20-acre land for the sports complex at Thurluvada and the Collector had already initiated the process of writing to the Central Government.
Speaking on the occasion, Union Minister of Urban Development, Urban Poverty Alleviation and Parliamentary Affairs M. Venkaiah Naidu said that the Government was committed to do all for the welfare of persons with disabilities and urged them not to lose hope but continue the fight to achieve higher goals in life.
He lashed out at the Congress and other parties for criticising them on not fulfilling promises made on benefits to A.P. post bifurcation. The Government is trying to improve the economic situation of the country and make more resources available for distribution among the states, he said.
