Date:02/08/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/08/02/stories/2008080251520300.htm

Karnataka - Hubli-Dharwad

Jobs for 5,828 disabled people

Staff Correspondent

Grievances meet to be held once in three months
‘There are around 9 lakh disabled people in the State’

DHARWAD: As many as 227 disabled people have been given facilities under various schemes in Dharwad district during this financial year.

This was disclosed at a district-level review meeting on giving equal opportunities to disabled persons here on Thursday.

Presiding over the meeting, Commissioner for the Disabled Welfare Das Suryavamshi said that there were 23,013 disabled people in the district of whom, 9,913 were women.

Review meeting on addressing the grievances of disabled persons would be held once in three months.

Mr. Suryavamshi said that steps were being taken to help such persons to get jobs not only in the public sector, but also in the private sector.

Lauded

He lauded the departments of Health and Education for extending maximum benefits to disabled persons.

Reviewing the achievements of various departments, he sought details on facilities provided to disabled persons, including providing identity cards, bus passes, and assistance for self-employment.

The Headquarters’ Assistant to the Deputy Commissioner, Mohan Sasanur, the Project Director of the zilla panchayat, Umesh Kusugal, and the Deputy Director of the Department of Women and Child Development were present among those present.

Addressing presspersons later, Mr. Suryavamshi said that the State Government would appoint disabled persons at the gram panchayat level.

A total of 5,828 disabled persons would be appointed in the State. Stating that there were around 9 lakh disabled people in the State, he said 50 per cent of them had been extended various facilities, 19,500 were getting pension, 19,224 had been given identity cards and 5,500 had received bus passes.