The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Disabled Welfare Fund on the anvil

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Monday, Dec 04, 2006
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Disabled Welfare Fund on the anvil

Staff Reporter

BANGALORE: The State Government is planning to establish a Disabled Welfare Fund in which the voluntary sector too can participate to generate funds for programmes and schemes for the welfare of the disabled, Minister for Women and Child Development H.K. Kumaraswamy said here on Sunday.

Speaking at a function to mark World Disabled Day, Mr. Kumaraswamy said the Government had been responding to the needs of the disabled, having realised that they need opportunity and not sympathy. "Our Government led by Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy has increased the pension paid to disabled persons from Rs. 125 to Rs. 200. This had not been done for the past 15 years," he said. The Government is planning to suggest incorporation of health, education and employment generation for the disabled in the Eleventh Five Year Plan. The Government is also planning to build 25 hostels in districts for disabled women, at a cost of Rs. 8 lakh, and the number of bus passes issued to disabled persons has been increased from 50,000 to one lakh. Ranjini Srikumar, Principal Secretary, Women and Child Welfare Department, gave details of the employment opportunities being created for the disabled. Computer and vocational training was being given to them for placement in the IT, BT and BPO sectors, apart from the construction industry, she said.

The Adhara Scheme to provide support to the disabled has got an additional Rs. 50 lakh up from Rs. 28 lakh. A scheme for training and placement is being introduced at a cost of Rs. 3 crore.

The scholarship amount has been increased from Rs. 1.21 crore to Rs. 1.95 crore. The State has 9.4 lakh persons with disabilities. The Government runs 119 special schools where 15,000 disabled children study and 60,000 children attend mainstream schools.

Mr. Kumaraswamy and actor Upendra gave away awards to individuals and institutions working for the welfare of the disabled. Sri Vishwadharma Mahila Matthu Makkala Shikshana Sevashrama of Veerapur Oni in Hubli, Ramu Hanchinala, Babaiah Chennaiah Devangi Math of Gokak, M. Phoolchand Shaw of Davangere, P.K. Paul of Bangalore, Vijayaraj and G.R. Mukta of Bangalore received awards.

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