HASSAN: Minister for Women and Child Development H.K. Kumaraswamy has said that there are more than 10 lakh people with physical disability in the State, of which 30,000 are in Hassan district.

He was speaking at the inauguration of a function on the occasion of World Disabled Day and World Senior Citizen Day at Ambedkar Bhavan here on Thursday. The programme was organised by the district administration, the Physically Impaired and Senior Citizen Welfare Department, the Women and Child Welfare Department and voluntary organisations.

Mr. Kumaraswamy said the State Government had launched several schemes for the welfare of persons with disability.

The Government was involved in providing nutritious food to pregnant women to prevent them from giving birth to infants with disabilities.

He urged voluntary organisations to join hands with the Government in its efforts to help persons with disability lead comfortable lives.

Allowance

Mr. Kumaraswamy said the Government had increased the allowance to persons with physical disability from Rs. 100 a month to Rs. 200. This would result in an annual expenditure of Rs. 85 crore. There was also a proposal to raise the monthly allowance to Rs. 500 a month.

He said the Government was providing training in different activities to 2,400 persons with physical disability, on which it had spent Rs. 2 crore. The date for the issue of bus passes to persons with disability had been extended to February 28. This year, 50,000 more passes would be issued, and all persons with disability would be provided tricycles, he said.

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