Chief Minister N. Biren Singh has said that the State Government is considering to provide interest-free loans to differently abled persons to help them start suitable occupations and live a dignified life. He was speaking as the chief guest at the inaugural function of the two days Distribution Camp of Aids and Assistive Devices to Persons with Disabilities under ADIP Scheme at City Convention Centre, Imphal East today. The programme was organized by the Department of Social Welfare in association with Swami Vivekanand National Institute of Rehabilitation Training and Research (SVNIRTAR), Cuttack (Odisha).

N. Biren Singh observed that nothing is greater than extending help to each other and live a life of peaceful co-existence. That is why, the State Government is concentrating on service to humanity, he added. Stating that CMHT and CMST were introduced to help needy people and differently abled persons, the Chief Minister said that although State’s current financial position is not that sound, the State Government is spending around Rs. 10 crores every year in implementing these schemes. The Chief Minister also said that the Government is gathering information about needy people and differently abled persons through Go to Village and Go to Hill missions. He asked the District Social Welfare Officers to identify the persons who can be benefitted under different Government schemes.

Regarding drug menace, the Chief Minister expressed concern that many youths are addicted to drugs and other intoxicants. As such, the Government is planning to initiate a mission to permanently reform the addicts in a professional manner, he added. For this, the State Social Welfare Department would organize a seminar where the root cause of the menace and its solution would be deliberated thoroughly, the Chief Minister said.

He said that the State Government has identified 41,000 medical professionals and other individuals, who would be the first beneficiaries of COVID-19 vaccine. Necessary arrangements had been made to promptly start vaccination soon after the arrival of vaccine, he informed. The Chief Minister also said that 100 doctors had been engaged on daily wage basis to meet the healthcare needs due to the current pandemic. He also said that the necessary procedures had also already begun to recruit 300 regular doctors through MPSC.

Speaking at the occasion as the functional president, Social Welfare Minister Okram Henry sought people’s support and cooperation in reaching the benefits of different schemes to needy people. The Government is round the clock ready to extend necessary assistance to the people, he added.

Commissioner (Social Welfare) H. Gyan Prakash and Director of SVNIRTAR Dr. Saki Prasad Das were also seated on the dais as dignitaries. They distributed different Aids and Assistive Devices like tricycle, wheel chair, crutches axilla, walking stick, rollator, smart phone, daisy player, hearing aid, etc. to differently abled persons. The total cost of the Aids and Assistive Devices which will be distributed today and tomorrow is Rs. 28,36,888. Three National Bal Shree Award winners for the years 2015 and 2016 were also feted at the function. They were Avita Waikhom, Maibam Preety and S. Santosh.