The Hindu : Front Page : Programme for rehabilitation of disabled

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Aug 06, 2007
ePaper

Front Page

Front Page

Programme for rehabilitation of disabled

M. Balaganessin

PUDUKOTTAI: A special National Programme for Rehabilitation of Persons with Disability (NPRPD) will be implemented in the district. It aims at ensuring early intervention for checking the severity of disability.

Sponsored by the Union Ministry of Social Justice and Human Empowerment, the programme will be implemented in co-ordination with various State departments, including Education, Social Welfare, Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS) and the District Rural Development Agency, besides non-governmental organisations (NGOs) working for the cause of the disabled persons.

Nine NGOs, which have been identified for the purpose, have appointed 225 community-based rehabilitation workers and 10 multi-purpose rehabilitation workers to execute the programme.

Work on updating the census of disabled persons in the district has started in the district on August 1. The census will help ascertain the number of needy persons, and the nature of assistance they require. Vocational training programmes will be organised to help disabled persons take up self-employment. Steps will also be taken for forming self-help groups (SHGs) and ensuring credit-linkage with banks.

The focus of the programme will be to make the disabled persons lead a decent life with an income on par with normal persons, and to eradicate the social stigma. The NGOs will also offer counselling to the family members for treating the disabled with dignity.

A committee chaired by District Collector will monitor the programme’s implementation. The committee will include project officers of Mahalir Thittam and DRDA, District Disabled Rehabilitation Officer, Chief Educational Officer and District Social Welfare Officer.

Pudukottai is one of the five districts selected for the implementation of NPRDP, the other districts being Dharmapuri, Krishnagiri, Tirunelveli and Sivaganga. The duration of the programme is expected to be three years but would be extended based on the results, official sources told ‘The Hindu’ here on Sunday.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Front Page