Punjab Social Security, Women and Child Development Minister Mrs. Aruna Chaudhary today called Divyangs (persons with disabilities) are an integral part of the society and told that special initiatives have been taken by the state government for their empowerment, while addressing a function on the occasion of International Divyang Day.During this virtual program, she said that the Punjab government will start a new scheme for the empowerment of Divyang persons - 'Punjab Diwangjan Shaktikaran' scheme (PDSY) in a phased manner across the state. The program was attended by Principal Secretary of Social Security, Women and Child Development Mrs. Raji P Srivastava, Director Vipul Ujjwal, all District Social Security Officers, various NGOs and several others.The Cabinet Minister further said that the first phase of the 'Punjab Divyangajan Shaktikaran' scheme would include strengthening the existing programs to ensure that the benefits of this scheme could be extended to the Divyangs more effectively. However, in the second phase, 13 new schemes are being proposed for empowerment of such persons.
The objective of this scheme is to provide a congenial atmosphere to the Divyang people in a phased manner by providing access to government and public buildings, public transport and websites.Mrs. Chaudhary further said the objective of PDSY scheme is to clear the backlog of posts reserved for Divyangs in government jobs, which has already been approved by the Cabinet through State's Employment Generation Scheme. Emphasis will be given on filling up vacancies of Divyangs within next six months through the Employment Generation Department. She said that priority will be given to Divyangs in the allotment of Verka Milk booths so that they would be self reliant. Tricycles will also be provided to school going Divyang students.Cabinet Minister Mrs. Chaudhary reiterated that the state government under the leadership of Chief Minister Capt. Amarinder Singh is committed to create an atmosphere for overall upliftment of Divyang people and special schemes had been drawn up by the government. She said that special camps, medical camps and counseling would be conducted for these people about the facilities being provided by the government and to solve the problems being faced by them. She added no stone will be left unturned to integrate them in the mainstream of the society.