"The Punjab Government has made it an article of faith to promulgate all necessary measures for the welfare of differently abled people as well as ensuring full dignity to them in the government offices and the Chief Minister, Captain Amarinder Singh is according priority to this aspect." This was disclosed here today by the Social Security and Women and Child Development Minister, Punjab, Mrs. Aruna Chaudhary in a meeting at Punjab Bhawan with the representatives of the various NGOs working for the upliftment of the differently abled people. Outlining her vision for the differently abled people, the minister said that the first and foremost thing is to sensitize the society about the differently abled people including their special needs and then make this endeavour a mass movement so as to make sure that the differently abled people consider themselves an inseparable part of the mainstream. Adding more, the minister said that the Social Security Department is taking initiative to check roaster register of all departments twice a year to help in ascertaining if the promotions and recruitments of differently abled employees as per their quota are being held.Disclosing about another significant step, the minister said that MGSIPA institute in Sector-26 has already started the process of training employees of every department of the Punjab Government to sensitize them with regard to being positively responsive towards the special needs of the differently abled people and deal with them with care and affection.
Elaborating on the aspect of early intervention, Mrs. Chaudhary said that if the disabilities are detected early on in life in these people then necessary steps can be initiated to prevent the disabilities from spreading. The minister also added that in order to encourage the differently abled sportspersons to excel in the sporting arena, a top notch institute with all the requisite state of the art equipment and the modern training aids responsive to their special needs is very much on the cards.Dwelling further, the minister said that the required steps would be initiated to make sure that the differently abled people face absolutely no harassment at the various toll plazas throughout the state. Mrs. Chaudhary also said that the audit of 10 cities would be done in order to have an assessment about the infrastructure required for providing every amenity to the people with special needs.The minister also directed that regular meetings be held pertaining to review the implementation of necessary measures aimed at the upliftment of differently abled people which were agreed upon in the previous meeting.
The minister further added that the issue of increase in the pensions of differently abled people would be given sympathetic consideration by the Government.In his address on the occasion, the Special Chief Secretary, Social Security and Women and Child Development, Punjab, Mr. Karanbir Singh Sidhu said that the welfare of the differently people is at the heart of the government and the department would proceed with an open and positive mindset as per the directions of the minister to evolve an infrastructure conducive to these people.The Director, Social Security and Women and Child Development, Punjab, Mrs. Kavita Singh said that the issues raised by the representatives of the various NGOs would be approached with compassionate and humanitarian considerations and necessary steps would be taken to address their concerns.On the occasion, the Commissioner for Persons with disabilities Mr. Kumar Rahul and Additional Director Social Security Department Mr. Navjot Pal Singh Randhawa were also present.