GANGTOK, (IPR): Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya distributed aids and appliances and Niramaya Health Insurance Cards to the Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) under the theme ‘Hamro Sankalp Viksit Bharat-Puspit Sikkim’ at Raj Bhawan today.
The programme was organised under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India. The implementing agency is Composite Regional Centre Sikkim (CRC) for the Skill Development, Empowerment & Rehabilitation of PWDs, Assam Linzey.
Under various other initiatives of the Central government to support PwDs, the Assistance to Disabled Persons for Purchasing/Fitting of Aids/Appliances (ADIP) scheme is one of them. The distribution was made on the need-based list provided by the Women and Child Development department, Government of Sikkim to various beneficiaries of the State.
The primary aim of the ADIP scheme is to support financially disadvantaged individuals with disabilities in acquiring durable, advanced, and scientifically manufactured aids and appliances that can enhance their physical, social, and psychological rehabilitation. This is achieved by mitigating the effects of disabilities and boosting their economic potential.
As part of the scheme, eight wheelchairs, one braille kit, one cerebral palsy chair and one Multi Sensery Inclusive Educational Kit (MSIED) were distributed.
Similarly, under the Niramaya Health Insurance Scheme of National Trust, Government of India, 22 health cards were distributed. These cards are designed to meet the needs of four types of disabilities: autism, intellectual disability, multiple disabilities, and mental illness.
Under this scheme, beneficiaries are provided with a health insurance cover of Rs. 1 lakh for one year to cover medical check-ups and hospitalisation.
Pushpanjali Gupta, director, CRC Sikkim informed that similar distribution programme will be organised in various places in near future.
