Union Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu reaffirmed the government’s unwavering commitment to the welfare of disabled individuals during a significant event on Saturday. Speaking during an event organised by the Department of Disabled and Elderly Welfare, the Union Ministry of Social Justice Empowerment, and the Artificial Limbs Manufacturing Corporation of India (ALINCO), Rammohan Naidu expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the disabled community, acknowledging their blessings as instrumental in his rise to Union Minister at a young age. He expressed his delight at organizing his first program as a Union Minister for this esteemed group. “Their support and blessings have been my driving force,” Naidu stated.
In a substantial move to aid the disabled, Naidu announced the distribution of 823 assistive devices worth Rs. 73.32 lakh to approximately 479 individuals across the district in a single day. He emphasized the government’s dedication to providing essential assistive devices and highlighted the recent increase in pensions for disabled individuals to Rs 6,000. “We are committed to being at the forefront, ready to assist whenever needed,” he assured.
District Collector Swapnil Dinkar Pundkar added to the commitment by announcing enhanced facilities for easy travel in RTC buses for disabled individuals. He revealed that a circular would be issued to all government departments, mandating the allocation of at least 3 per cent of their funds for the development of disabled individuals.
Praising Chief Minister Nara Chandra Babu Naidu, Vizianagaram MLAs Kalishetti Appalanaidu, Srikakulam MLA Gondu Shankar, and Narasannapet MLA Baggu Ramanamurthy highlighted the increase in the disability pension from Rs 3,000 to Rs 6,000. They stressed that the government is not only providing financial support but also focusing on skill development and self-employment opportunities for disabled individuals.
The event saw the presence of several dignitaries, including Disabled Welfare Department AD Kavitha, Nehru Yuva Kendra Coordinator Ujwal, Mepma PD Kiran Kumar, District Employment Officer Sudha, Tourism Officer Narayana Rao, ALINCO Coordinator Ravi Shankar, and District President of Disabled Welfare Association Raman Murthy.
