Imphal: Union Minister Pratima Bhoumik handed over 5706 aids and assistive devices valued at around Rs 1.29 crore to specially-abled and senior citizens on Sunday in Manipur’s Bishnupur district.
Addressing a Samajik Adhikarita Shivir – (camp for distribution of aids and assistive devices for specially abled & Senior Citizens) at Kyamba Ningshing Shanglen, the union minister of state for Social Justice and Empowerment said her department has implemented various welfare schemes to empower these sections of people.
She said RIMS Imphal is one of the MSJE empanelled hospitals where children with severe to profound hearing loss can avail cochlear implant surgery free of cost under ADIP Scheme.
Highlighting the initiatives undertaken by the MSJE under a the Accessible India Campaign, she said steps are underway to make about 28 government office buildings in the state accessible and disable-friendly. MSJE is also implementing a Unique Disability ID for specially abled people for ease of delivering government benefits to them and ensuring uniformity, she added.
ALIMCO, a Public Sector Undertaking is the nodal agency for implementation of ADIP Scheme and Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojna of Government of India. The aids and appliances distributed during the day included eight tricycles, 827 folding wheel chairs, 316 crutches, 849 walking sticks, 25 smart canes, 24 smartphones, 41 braille kit, 628 BTE (Hearing Aid Machine), 50 walkers among others.
