Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, October 23 2008:
Under the initiative to ensure all the benefits entitled to disabled persons as provided by the Central Government, an assessment/identification camp disabled persons was held today at the office of the Rural Education and Socio Economic Development Organisation, Thanga Tongbram Leikai.
The assessment camp jointly organised by the State Medical Board, Social Welfare Department and Rural Education and Socio Economic Development Organisation was held under the supervision of Thanga A/C MLA T Mangibabu.
During the camp, 170 with various forms of disabilities were examined by a team of medical experts led by the Disability Officer of Social Welfare Department.
Speaking at the occasion, MLA T Mangibabu noted that a large number of disabled persons have been unable to receive any of the benefits provided by the Central Government as they do not posses official disability certificates.
He said that after this camp, many of the disabled persons will get their due certificates which would enable them to get various benefits provided by the
Government.
Disability Officer L Ibomcha said that the Government has been organising such assessment camps at different places to give them certificates in view of the difficulties of disabled persons to come to JN Hospital for identification of their
disabilities.
Once they are given the certificates, disabled persons can receive not only material assistance but also certain advantages during admission in educational institutions and recruitment in Government offices, Ibomcha said.
Even as the benefits entitled to disabled persons have been explained to the Bishnupur Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan authority and accordingly appealed to cooperate in identifying disabled persons, no cooperation has been forthcoming, he lamented.