The Hindu : New Delhi News : Mobile PCO scheme for handicapped launched

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Aug 24, 2004

New Delhi

New Delhi

Mobile PCO scheme for handicapped launched

By Our Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI, AUG. 23. In a unique initiative aimed at making the physically challenged people self-reliant, the Sheila Dikshit Government has launched the mobile STD/PCO scheme. In addition, a new computerised Composite Loan Scheme (CLS) is also scheduled to be launched from September for welfare of the minorities, safai karamcharis and other weaker sections of society in the Capital.

The red-coloured tricycles fitted with mobile STD/PCO have already made their appearance on city roads. Terming it as a compact mobile solution for those wanting to make local or STD calls, the Development Minister, Raj Kumar Chauhan, said 500 such tricycles would be distributed this year itself. He informed that the Chief Minister, Sheila Dikshit, had launched the scheme on the 60th birth anniversary of the former Prime Minister, Rajiv Gandhi, and already 42 such tricycles have been distributed among the handicapped. Mr. Chauhan said that no categories have been created under this scheme and the only criteria fixed is that the person concerned should be 40 per cent handicapped for availing of this scheme. Mr. Chauhan said already 100 such tricycles are with the Delhi Government to ensure that no one has to wait for his turn under the scheme.

Mr. Chauhan said this self-employment scheme was promoted by the Delhi Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe and Other Backward Classes, Minorities and Handicapped Finance and Development Corporation. The tricycles are being supplied by a Kanpur-based public sector undertaking and the telephone connections for the mobile STD booths are being provided by Reliance India PCO. The Minister informed that the Corporation was working for the economic upliftment of the handicapped by providing them a new opening through self-employment. He said this was one of the many initiatives that are being planned for welfare of the handicapped by the Delhi Government.

He said under this scheme the mobile STD/PCO booths could be stationed at all those places or roads where public telephone facility is not available. For instance he said these mobile booths could be stationed near bus stops or outside Metro Rail stations or even places like shopping malls and commercial complexes to provide access to those who want to make instant long distance or local calls. He said 500 tricycles was for the initial part of the scheme and if need be, the scheme would be expanded. The cost of each PCO is around Rs. 20,000 and the total cost involved in this project is Re. 1 crore. Mr. Chauhan said that under the scheme, each handicapped person is provided with one tricycle, one Reliance Inform connection with free talk time of Rs. 3,000, a billing machine and instrument. The total cost of the mobile PCOs that are going to be distributed will be around Rs. 20 lakh.

Mr. Chauhan informed that a new computerised Composite Loan Sanction scheme was being launched in September which would ensure that the Scheduled Castes, Other Backward Classes and minorities applying for loan would not have to wait for a long time and their funds would be released within five days of receipt of application.

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