Disabled people have proved ‘we are no less than anyone’: CM Yogi
Lucknow| Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said that by respecting the words and feelings of the disabled, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inspired them to move forward in life and every field in a dignified manner. Whenever disabled people got the opportunity, they confirmed this word with their talent. CM Yogi gave many examples including Rishi Ashtavakra, great poet Surdas, physicist Stephen Hawking, Jagadguru Swami Rambhadracharya.
He said that whoever got the encouragement and support of the platform and society, he gave the benefit of his talent to the country, the world and humanity and proved that he is no less than anyone. ‘World Disabled Day’ is a medium to provide new inspiration to the society to adopt this approach.
CM Yogi addressed the state level award distribution ceremony at Lok Bhavan on Tuesday on ‘World Disabled Day’. The students of Government Sparsh Girls School, Mohan Road presented the welcome song. He appreciated the children’s presentation and the first President Dr. Also wished Rajendra Prasad on his birth anniversary (National Advocates Day). He said that while working for every section of the society, the government is growing with the mantra of PM Modi’s vision of ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas’.
He said that two disabled universities within the state (Dr. in Lucknow). Shakuntala Mishra National Rehabilitation University and Jagadguru Rambhadracharya University in Chitrakoot). Colleges are also run in different areas for visually impaired, deaf and mute children, but there is a need to increase their number. There should be trained teachers in this, they should get good honorarium, facilities, training and should be made capable with technology. More work needs to be done on this.
CM Yogi said that there should be willpower to work, funds are not a hindrance. If you prepare quietly, the result will showcase your talent. In 2017, only 7-8 lakh disabled people in the state got pension, that too only Rs 300-300. When this amount came in six months, Babu used to eat half the money, but we send the amount directly to the beneficiary’s account. We increased this amount from 300 rupees to one thousand rupees. Now 11 lakh disabled people are receiving the benefit of 12 thousand rupees annual pension. Three thousand rupees monthly leprosy pension is provided to the family of the victim. It was also decided that PM/CM will also provide housing to these families.
He said that there is also a provision of 4 per cent reservation for the disabled in state services. Discussing Ramchandra Gupta of Kanpur Dehat, CM Yogi said that despite being disabled, he is a model of self-reliance and self-reliance. Through his medium he runs a big center for children. This proves that if there is willpower then even the biggest work can be done. The best example of the talent and energy of the disabled people was the Paris Paralympics, in which a flurry of medals were won due to their excellent performance.
CM Yogi said that government buildings and institutions have been asked to build ramps for the disabled. A provision of Rs 40 crore has been made for free travel of disabled people in Transport Corporation buses. For marriage (couples with 40 per cent) provide assistance of Rs 15 thousand for husband’s disability, Rs 20 thousand for wife and Rs 35 thousand for both of them. A grant of Rs 20 thousand is being given for the construction of shops and Rs 10 thousand for the operation of shops, kiosks and hand carts.
He said that many programs are being run by the state government for the disabled. The grant amount for various types of surgery has been increased from Rs 8 thousand to Rs 10 thousand. An amount of up to Rs 6 lakh has been given for artificial limb distribution and cochlear implant surgery for deaf and dumb children. There have been 24 surgeries in the state this year. The government is also helping in the operation of many institutions in the state. From pre-primary to establishment of ‘Bachpan Dey Cares’, mentally retarded shelter homes cum training centers are running in Meerut, Bareilly and Gorakhpur.
CM Yogi said that the government increased many programs related to the Backward Classes Welfare Department. In 2016-17, the department was given a budget of 1,295 crore, now this amount became around Rs 2,800 crore. This was increased by 116 per cent. In 2016-17, 107 crore budget was allocated for Purvadasham Scholarship Scheme, 5.19 lakh students benefited from it. Now the budget has been made at 160.16 crore, from which 7.58 lakh students are benefiting.
He informed that a provision of Rs 300 crore has been made for the scholarship of students belonging to backward classes. In 2016-17, 13.64 lakh children availed the benefit of post-10th scholarship at a cost of 983 crore. At that time only 11.13 lakh students were given the benefit of fee reimbursement. Now Rs 2,070 crore to 19.80 lakh students are getting the benefit of post-tenth scholarship and fee reimbursement i.e. today Rs 1,100 crore are giving the benefit of scholarship and fee reimbursement to additional post-tenth students as compared to 2016-17. 7 lakh additional children are benefiting from this. In 2016-17, 70 thousand daughters were able to get benefits from the grant amount of Rs 141 crore. At present, one lakh daughters are being benefited at a cost of Rs 200 crore.
