CHANDIGARH: The Haryana Chief Minister, Bhupinder Singh Hooda, has announced a bonanza of incentives for physically challenged employees of the State Government which include an increase in the retirement age from 58 years to 60, thereby bringing it at par with that of visually challenged employees, and enhancement of special pay allowance from Rs. 250 per month to Rs. 600 per month. Mr. Hooda was addressing a gathering to mark the birth anniversary of Louis Braille at Panchkula on Wednesday. He also inaugurated the ground floor of the building of the National Disabled Institute at Panchkula.

Mr. Hooda said the Government had earmarked Rs. 33.35 crores for welfare and upliftment of the handicapped people. Permission had been granted for setting up another eye bank at Kishan Lal Jalan Eye Hospital in Bhiwani. He also announced a grant of Rs. 25 lakhs for the building of the National Handicapped Welfare Council. He said the need of the hour was to make society a better place to live for the handicapped and disabled persons.

The Chief Minister also presented the "Louis Braille Memorial Award, 2005" to the Chief Secretary, Meenaxi Anand Chaudhary. He also awarded cash prizes of Rs. 11,000 each to three physically and mentally challenged performers, Tejaswani, Richa Singh and Sunil. The Council also presented a Charter of Demands to the Chief Minister, the Deputy Chief Minister, Chander Mohan, and the Health Minister, Kartar Devi.

Meanwhile, Mr. Hooda announced plans to set up an auditorium at the Mansa Devi Complex. He was speaking after laying the foundation stone of the Haryana Sahitya Akademi Bhavan. While welcoming Mr. Hooda on his first visit to the district in the New Year, Mr. Chander Mohan, who is also the local MLA, thanked him for giving three projects to the district and the State.

While laying the foundation stone of a building of the Haryana State Science and Technology Council at Panchkula, Mr. Hooda said that the Government had decided to set up science clubs in schools at the district level for bringing science culture in all schools, bio-technology park at Manesar and DNA mapping laboratory at Hisar. Also, science kits would be provided in all schools. He said that a rain water harvesting project was also being initiated in the State to ensure optimum use of rain water.

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