International Day of Persons with Disabilities observed across the State
UDID project launched in all districts: Nemcha
Source: The Sangai Express / DIPR

Imphal, December 03 2019: The International Day of Persons with Disabilities 2019 was celebrated with 'Promoting the participation of persons with disabilities and their leadership: Taking action on the 2030 development agenda' as this year's theme, at Iboyaima Shumang Leela Shanglen today.

Social Welfare and Cooperation Minister Nemcha Kipgen, while speaking at the function as the chief guest, lauded the people with disabilities, their parents/guardians and organisations/NGOs which are working for the welfare of the PwDs, for showing up in great numbers and taking part in the observation.

She declared that the Social Welfare Department has been extending numerous welfare initiatives to differently abled persons and launching appropriate schemes including distribution of Rs 1500 aid to around 4878 PwDs every month for their livelihood, scholarship to students and unemployment allowance to educated youth, Chief Minister Gi Shotharaba Singgi Tenbang.

The Minister continued that 53 websites of Government Departments including the Social Welfare Department have been made accessible for differently abled people, especially those who are visually impaired so as to enable them to learn the initiatives taken up by the Department concerned.

She added that almost all the Government buildings have also been modified to make them disabled friendly under the Disabled Friendly India campaign.

Nemcha further announced that Unique Disability ID (UDID) for persons with disabilities project has already been launched in all the 16 districts of Manipur.

The project has been implemented with a view to create a National database for PwDs and to issue a Unique Disability Identity Card to each person with disabilities.

She maintained that this project will not only encourage transparency, efficiency and ease of delivering Government benefits to the people concerned but ensure consistency as well.

It will also help streamline the tracking of physical and financial progress of beneficiaries at all levels of hierarchy of implementation i.e.from village level, block level, district level, State level and National level, she added.

Nemcha continued that the Department of Social Welfare, Manipur in collaboration with ALIMCO Guwahati have, since September 25, conducted various assessment camps to identify PwDs for providing various aids and appliances.

She called on the attention of all concerned, CSOs and NGOs to notify the department about those who requires these aids and appliances.

She assured that necessary steps will be taken up to felicitate differently abled people who bagged awards and recognitions at the State, National and International levels, from next year.

Speaking on the occasion as the guest of honour, Director, Social Welfare Ng Uttam ardently appealed to all the public to directly bring to the notice of the department if they come across any deserving beneficiaries.

Principle Secretary, Social Welfare V Vumlunmang attended the occasion as the president.

Hearing aids, tricycle and wheel chair were also distributed as part of the function.

In a separate function, Welfare Association for the Blind Manipur (WABM), Oinam Ibohal Polytechnic Keishampat and District Legal Services Authority Imphal West observed International Day of Persons with Disabilities 2019 at Takyel.

RIMS Imphal Director Dr Ahanthem Shanta graced the function as the chief guest while Manipur Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board (MBCWWB), Labour Dept member Mutum Shanti attended as the president and Manipur Society for Skill Development Joint Director S Ibochouba as the guest of honour.

Dr Shanta appealed all to encourage people with disabilities and motivate them to carry their dreams forward.

On the other hand, Handicapped Development Foundation Manipur also observed the day at Handicapped Development Foundation Manipur's office in Sagolband Tera Sayang road.

Parents and Guardian Council of Persons with Disabilities Manipur president Thangjam Sharatkumar, High Court of Manipur Advocate Maisnam Korouhanba Luwang and Handicapped Development Foundation Manipur chairman Dr Ch Rupachandra attended the function as dignitaries.

On the other hand, International Day of People with Disabilities was also organised by Spastic Society of Manipur at Tapokpi bazar.

Rising Star Club chartered engineer and president Th Gobardhan, Spastic Society of Manipur secretary L Tokendra Ricky, Music Director Jeetenkumar Naorem and Spastic Society of Manipur spokesperson Ph Kripa Meetei attended the function as dignitaries.

A felicitation ceremony was organised to welcome three differently abled persons who received awards namely Mutum Tombimacha (National Teachers Award), Mayanglambam Sumati (National Award) and Angamba Y Ranesh (Rotary Club of Polo City Award in special category).

Spastic Society of Manipur secretary Tokendra Ricky will be opening up an Autism clinic from January.

A music band called Nonglei, including three PwDs, was also formed and introduced as part of the function.

The Relief Centre for the Welfare of Differently Abled Persons Manipur organised 7th winter exhibition for PwDs cum distribution of TLM kits to persons with intellectual disabilities, as part of the Disabilities Day 2019 .

The programme was held in association with National Institute for Persons with Intellectual Disabilities under the aegis of Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, GoI, at Ideal Club ground, Tera Bazar today.

CAF& PD Minister Karam Shyam graced the function as the chief guest while CWC president, NEIDP S Kunjakeshor, State Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities Dr RK Kumarjit, RIMS Dean Prof Dr Brogen AK, Ideal Club Tera president RK Tombisana attended as dignitaries among others.

Meanhwile, Singhat Battalion of Churachandpur Sector Assam Rifles under the aegis of HQ IGAR (South) organised a social service event in view of International Disability Day for specially abled children from Bliss Island School located at Mata village in Churachandpur district.

The event aims to bring smile on the faces of the children, said PRO, IGAR.

The event was organised by Singhat Battalion in Conjunction with the NGO, People Advance in Social Service (PASS) .

70 children were taken to Sharon Park at Turbong.

The event was appreciated by the children and local population, it added.

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