Welfare policy sought for differently-abled persons

Thousands of differently-abled persons have been enduring distress because the outbreak of coronavirus pandemic, lockdown and different causes.

Facing difficulties in mobility, they’re craving for care with a lot of their members of the family failing to cater to their wants owing to both drop within the earnings sources or lack of livelihood altogether as a result of virus-induced lockdown and financial slowdown.

The differently-abled folks have additionally misplaced their sources of earnings for the identical causes. As per authorities information, practically 8 lakh folks fall below differently-abled class within the State. Apart from varied illnesses together with polio, accidents have made them depending on others and the pandemic has compounded the issues.

On the eve of International Day of Persons with Disabilities, which is noticed on December 3 yearly, they’ve urged the federal government to come back with an unique policy to make sure a good life and livelihood for them.

“It is very hard to get a job for physically-challenged persons. The government pensions, self-employment schemes and other welfare programmes cover only 20%of the differently-abled people. The government must take up a study on their grievances and come up an exclusive policy to help the differently-abled people lead their life with honour,” mentioned P. Yesudasu, president of Viziangaram District Vikalangula Hakkula Parirakshana Sangham.

Sri Gurudeva Charitable Trust (Mangalapalem-Kothavalasa mandal) founder Raparthi Jagadish Babu, who has distributed prosthetic limbs to just about 71,000 persons within the final twenty years, recommended that the federal government ought to arrange small-scale industries completely for the physically-challenged folks.

Small-scale industries

“The government can announce incentives for entrepreneurs who come forward to establish small and medium scale industries. It can also design skill development programmes for the differently-abled persons,” he added.

K. Ramalakshmi of L. Kota and M. Chellayamm of Vepada, each differently-abled, urged the federal government to ascertain meals processing items in villages in order that it will straightforward for them to get livelihood regionally. “It is very difficult to get jobs in villages and mandal headquarters. We need to travel long distances to get even a small job. The amount we earn is not sufficient given the skyrocketing prices of essential commodities,” mentioned K. Ramalakshmi.