NAGROTA: In all, 150 physically challenged persons of Dansal area in Nagrota Assembly Constituency got hassle-free disability certificate at a specially organized medical camp held here this morning. These certificates are pre-requisite for deriving benefits under various schemes tailored for their empowerment.
First of its kind in the area, the camp was coordinated by Dr Shamim Mir, Block Medical Officer Dansal and Dr K.L Gupta. The medical board comprised Dr Vikramjeet Singh, Dr Kulbir Singh, Dr Daleep Tickoo, Dr Sushil Sharma and Dr Divya Gupta besides a team of paramedics.
Lauding the effort, National Conference Provincial President and MLA Nagrota Devender Singh Rana called for a holistic approach towards empowerment of physically challenged people, saying that an atmosphere is needed to be generated wherein they can play useful role in the overall development of the society.
“Apart from the government, Non-Governmental Organisations and Corporate Sector must come forward in a big way and provide opportunities to persons with disabilities, enabling them to function in society to the fullest physical, mental and vocational usefulness of which they may be capable”, Rana said
He said such a camp will enable the eligible persons to obtain much needed certificates without hassle, so that they can derive benefits of various governmental schemes being tailored for their rehabilitation and welfare from time to time. He sought a single-window system and holding of assistance camps for reaching out to physically disabled persons and covering them under various welfare programmes.
The MLA Nagrota lauded the resilience of physically challenged persons and said the ornament of education has brought about a positive change among them towards life. In this context, he referred to successes achieved by physically challenged persons in different walks of life, be that academics, civil service, art and culture. He hoped that the society will continue its role towards the empowerment of physically challenged, who are not only entitled to life but also to a life of dignity. He emphasised the role of immediate family in developing confidence among persons with disabilities and concentrate on their education. “The society too must ensure educational accessibility for all”, he emphasised. Rana also urged the physically challenged persons to take to various vocational programmes for earning a livelihood to live a dignified life.