VIJAYAWADA: Krishna District Collector B Lakshmikantham on Monday distributed laptops and assistive devices to physically challenged during a programme organised at Indira Gandhi Municipal Corporation Stadium for celebrating the International Day of Persons with Disabilities.
Lakshmikantham addressed the gathering and said that so far, artificial limbs and assistive devices worth Rs 2 crore were distributed to differently-abled persons in the district under the ‘Cheyutha’ scheme.
A survey was also conducted by district officials and a plan drafted to provide other aid for the physically challenged by the end of December, he said, adding that special measures were being taken to provide ration cards, housing facility and job loans to the beneficiaries.
Talking about other welfare schemes launched for the differently-abled, the Collector said that 85,000 people had been given Software for Assessment of Disabled for Access Rehabilitation and Employment (SADAREM) certificates in the district.Camps were being organised in 16 Assembly constituencies in the district and 2,324 physically challenged were provided assistive devices, he said.
Around 2,675 houses were constructed under the NTR Housing Scheme and `2.31 crore of loan subsidy was provided to the eligible differently-abled people, he added. Differently Abled Persons Welfare Association Chairman G Koteswara Rao and others were also present.