Union Minister Thaawarchand Gehlot distributes free aids to Divyangjan; universal IDs soon

NEW DELHI: Union Minister Thaawarchand Gehlot today distributed free assistive devices worth Rs 180 lakhs to 1,544 ' Divyangjan' (persons with special abilities) under the Centre's ADIP scheme here.

A total of 1,544 persons with varied disabilities were provided with 2,904 aids and assistive devices worth Rs 180 lakhs under the Assistance to Disabled Persons for Purchase/Fitting of Aids/Appliances (ADIP) scheme at a camp here, an official statement said.

The camp was organized by Artificial Limbs Manufacturing Corporation of India (ALIMCO) under the Department of Empowerment Of Persons With disabilities (Divyangjan), Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, in close association with the District Administration, East Delhi, it said.

The beneficiaries were pre-identified at the assessment camps conducted in East Delhi during the month of June and July last year.

The Union Social Justice and Empowerment Minister said the government was committed to help the Divyangjans to live a respectable life, adding that 'Universal Identity cards' will be made for people with special abilities.

High quality contemporary aids and assistive devices, including 186 motorised tricycles were distributed at the event.

"The cost of each motorised tricycle is Rs 37,000, out of which Rs 12,000 was funded under MPLAD fund of local Member of Parliament Mahesh Giri, and the rest of the amount was covered under ADIP scheme of the government," the statement added.