Admn discusses accessible infra support for people with disabilities

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, February 27

A special meeting was held by Deputy Commissioner Gurpreet Singh Khaira to address the problems of people with disabilities (PwD) and discuss accessible infrastructure support for them.

District Social Security Officer Asisinder Singh and Member Secretary, Regional Transport Authority, Jyoti Bala along with Civil Surgeon Dr Charanjit Singh attended the meeting along with other representatives of civil society.

Addressing the meeting, the DC said, PwDs are an integral part of our society and they must be given a chance to move beyond their limitations. He directed the Acting Engineer PWD to construct ramps for the disabled persons in all government buildings for better accessibility. He asked the Civil Surgeon to conduct a survey of the disabled persons in the district so that the types of disability and the affected population could be ascertained and every possible effort could be made by the district administration to help them in future.

He also directed the District Red Cross Society to activate the District Disability and Rehabilitation Centre so that PwD could seek advice from various experts present in the centre and avail the facilities. In order to reach out to PwD and ensure right to education for children with disabilities, the District Education Department will issue appropriate orders to every school — public and private — to have special teachers under the Right to Education Act and a team constituted by the district administration would keep a check in this regard. The DC said strict action would be taken in case of violation.

The Transport Department will mobilize an awareness campaign on various schemes for the PwD such as concession on bus rides, registration of new vehicles, etc. The District Sports Officer said sports competitions for the PwD would be organised at regular intervals.

The road ahead

• Acting Engineer PWD directed to construct ramps for the disabled persons in all government buildings for better accessibility.
• Civil Surgeon told to conduct a survey of the disabled persons in the district, so that the types of disability and the affected population can be ascertained and every possible effort can be made by the district administration to help them in future.
• District Red Cross Society told to activate the District Disability and Rehabilitation Centre, so that PwDs can seek advice from various experts present at the centre and avail facilities.
• To reach out to PwD and ensure right to education for children with disabilities, the District Education Department will issue appropriate orders to every school - public and private - to have special teachers under the Right to Education Act and a team constituted by the district administration will keep a check in this regard.
• The Transport Department will mobilize an awareness campaign on various schemes for the PwD such as concession on bus rides, registration of new vehicles, etc.

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