Manipur Social Welfare and Cooperation Minister Nemcha Kipgen on Tuesday said that the benefits of various welfare schemes launched by the State Government and the Union Government for the differently-abled persons are yet to reach the poor persons with disabilities in far-flung areas in the Northeastern region due to lack of awareness about the schemes and their implementation.
Kipgen said this while attending a regional workshop on ‘Rehabilitation of Persons with Disabilities’ with special focus on ‘Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016’ held under the aegis of Ayar Yavar Jung National Institute of Speech and Hearing Disabilities (AYJNISHD), Mumbai in collaboration with the Office of the State Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities, Manipur at Imphal on Tuesday.
The workshop was also participated by the State Commissioner (Social Welfare) H Dileep Singh, Head, Socio-Economic Rehabilitation Department & Nodal Official North East (AYJNISHD) R Bhattacharyya and State Commissioner for Person with Disabilities Dr RK Kumarjit Singh.
Speaking on the occasion, Minister Nemcha Kipgen said she would work in consultation with the officials of the department and office of the Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities to initiate action towards framing of rules for Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 as soon as possible.
The Government of India has launched Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act in December 2016. But the implementation of the Act shall depend on the machineries of the State Government. Proper implementation of various provisions made under Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 rules will be framed, she felt.
She also felt that such awareness programmes should be conducted in the remotest areas of Manipur and other States to make sure that the benefits of the ‘Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016’ reach the unreached and deserving beneficiaries.
The State Social Welfare Minister also instructed that the information kiosks provided to the department and office of the State Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities should include information of welfare schemes introduced and implemented by the State Government and various legal provisions for differently-abled persons.
The officials of AYJNISHD, participants from four North Eastern States -Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland and Tripura – and other department officials also attended the workshop.