Gehlot arrives, promises hospital, to distribute kits today
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, March 23 2015: Union Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment Thawarchand Gehlot who arrived here on a two-day official visit to the State promised to set up a hospital for SC, OBC and disabled persons in the State provided the State Government gives the necessary plot.

Thawarchand Gehlot and Union Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment Krishan Pal Gurjar were accorded a warm reception by BJP Manipur Pradesh at their Nityaipat Chuthek office.

Speaking at the gathering, Thawarchand Gehlot stated that his Ministry would construct a hospital having capacity of 200 beds for SC, OBC and disabled persons of the State in case the State Government is ready to provide the necessary plot.

In addition, the Government of India would be more than willing to open an old age home and a sports centre for disabled persons if the State Government gives the necessary plots.

Thawarchand Gehlot being received with bouquets at Tulihal Airport

The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment would provide assistance to NGOs desirous of running schools, rehabilitation centres and old age homes.

The Ministry is ready to dole out benefits of several schemes to the people of Manipur but all these benefits would go waste if the State Government cannot reap them.

Claiming that the Government of India has been work- ing hard to ensure disabled persons get all the benefits entitled to them, Thawarchand Gehlot declared that he would distribute appliances and articles worth Rs 50 lakh to 721 disabled beneficiaries of the State tomorrow.

So far, 87 NGOs registered across the country have been blacklisted.

A couple of NGOs registered in Manipur might be included in the list.

Their registration would be cancelled and money granted to them would be recovered.

FIRs have been registered and some cases related to NGOs have been handed over to CBI, Thawarchand stated.

"As a party worker in-charge of the North East, I worked hard for strengthening BJP in Manipur when Atal Behari Vajpayee was the Prime Minister of India but there were many cases of atrocities and violence in the then Manipuri society" .

"But all my efforts to address these issues went in vain as the State Government was more interested in graft and corrupt practices", Tha-warchand stated.

Manipur could have achie-ved new milestones of deve- lopment when there was UPA Government at the Centre and Congress Government in the State but the opportunity was wasted.

Now it's time for a path-breaking change, he asserted.

He further exuded that he is confident people of Manipur would elect BJP to power in the next State Assembly election.

BJP Manipur Pradesh president Th Chaoba while alleging that huge amounts of fund sanctioned by the Government of India have been swindled by the Congress Government, urged the Central leaders to take the corrupt State leaders to task.

Earlier, the Union Ministers were accorded a warm reception by the State Minister of Social Welfare Department AK Mirabai at Imphal Tulihal International Airport along with various State BJP leaders and workers.

Officials of the Social Welfare Dept also joined them at the Airport.

Speaking to media persons shortly after his arrival, Union Minister, Thawar Chand Gehlot said that the purpose of his visit was to assess the condition of the differently abled persons and provide aid to them.

He said that he would provide artificial limb, hearing aid, Daisy (Digital Accessible Information System) players, mobile phone, laptops and other gadgets and appliance to the differently abled persons.

Around 850 beneficiaries are to receive the aid and appliances, he said.

The two Union Ministers are also scheduled to meet the Chief Minister and other Ministers of the State during their stay here.

Issues concerning drugs, ways and means to bring back drug addicts to the mainstream are said to be discussed and thrashed during the meetings with the CM and other Ministers.

The Minister also noted that Manipur has the second highest number of drug users which comes next only to Punjab.

Saying that he will personally visit various Departments of the State Govt, TC Gehlot assured to provide any deficits he comes across during the visit.

Apart from the Sports University, the Central Govt is ready to set up a rehabilitation centre for drug users if the Govt allots land for the same in order that youth of the State are freed from drugs.

The Ministers will also give a detailed report to the Centre about their visit and the outcome after holding talks with the State Government.

Shortly after their arrival, the Ministers visited the Spastic Society Manipur run differently abled Home located at Ghari.

The Ministers assured to provide possible assistance to the Spastic Society towards the realisation of various benefits to differently abled persons.

The Ministers also met and interacted with differently abled persons, their parents and staff of Spastic Society, Manipur.

Children and family members of the Spastic Society Manipur presented a souvenir (wooden crafted Sangai Deer) to the Union Minister during their visit to the Spastic Society Manipur.

The Ministers later visited RITC at Langthabal.