PANAJI: The Socorro panchayat has launched ‘Divyangsnehi’, a scheme aimed at helping the disabled purchase necessary appliances and aids.
After a suggestion by Guruprasad Pawaskar, the state commissioner for persons with disabilities, sarpanch Sandeep Manjrekar took up the issue and devised the scheme. In its budget estimate for 2022-23, the panchayat had included financial support for disabled people amounting to Rs 2 lakh to buy artificial aids and appliances under the ‘Divyangsnehi’ scheme. This was approved at the gram sabha meeting on February 27.
“The aim is to assist needy and disabled people obtain necessary aids and appliances that can reduce the effects of their disability and enhance their economic potential,” Pawaskar said.
Persons with a benchmark disability (at least 40% disability of any kind as defined by the RPWD Act 2016) will be eligible for the benefits of this scheme.
The state commissioner for persons with disabilities will soon set forth the rest of the guidelines for availing of this scheme.
“Panchayati raj institutions are meant to meet the needs of all sections of the village community. We are pleased that Socorro panchayat has introduced a scheme that will cater to the needs of the disabled,” Pawaskar said.
He appealed to other panchayats to implement similar schemes for those with disabilities.
