Rajahmundry: The state government has announced sops to the differently-abled persons, including enhanced monthly pension and financial incentive to mark the World Disabled Day celebrations on Tuesday.
Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy, while taking part in a programme organised to mark the occasion in Hyderabad, announced the enhancement of monthly pension to Rs 1,000 from the existing Rs 500 to the disabled persons.
The Chief Minister also announced enhancement of financial incentive of Rs 1 lakh from the existing Rs 50,000 to the normal person for marrying a disabled person. The differently-abled persons welcomed the state government’s decision and expressed their gratitude to the Chief Minister.
In West Godavari, the district administration has organised a programme to mark the occasion at the Alluri Seetarama Raju stadium.
Speaking on the occasion, District Rural Development Agency project director Y. Ramakrishna called upon the people not to show any discrimination towards the differently-abled persons and instead asked them to show love and affection and help the differently-abled to compete in all aspects with normal persons. He called upon them to avail several welfare schemes to improve their lot.
Disabled welfare authorities said that nearly 60,000 differently-abled persons are living in the district at present and out of them only those who suffer 100 per cent disability are eligible to get monthly pension. There are four broad categories of disability and they are —orthopedic, visual, hearing and mental retardation.
