Helpline launched for specially abled persons

Dial 0821-2490333 for assistance

A helpline was launched at Government School for Blind, Tilak Nagar, here on Sunday to enable specially abled persons to benefit from various government schemes and programmes.

The helpline number is 0821-2490333 and can be contacted between 10 am and 5 pm. It  is a joint initiative of Departments of Women and Child Development and Empowerment of Senior Citizens and Disabled as part of their State-wide plan.

Information related to the facilities available to target group, including academic, vocational training, employment, social security among others, would also be provided to the callers.

Besides, they would be taught about methods to avail the facilities right from filling applications to financial aid extended by various departments and also NGOs.

Earlier, Revenue and District In-charge Minister V Srinivas Prasad, who launched the helpline, said he would propose to the chief minister to increase the budgetary allocation from existing three per cent to five per cent for specially-abled persons.

Prasad said he would also make it a point during the preliminary budget meeting to impress upon the chief minister.

He said successive governments have launched various welfare schemes for specially-abled, that can be a success only if the departments take them to the beneficiaries. The specially-abled persons want encouragement, not just sympathy from people, he said. Prasad also listed success stories of many disabled persons.

Deputy Director of Women and Child Development Department K Radha said, “According to 2011 census, there are 60,000 specially abled persons in Mysuru district, including 25,000 in the city and 35,000 in rural parts. In the State alone, there are 13.24 lakh such persons.”

Visually challenged students were given 50 laptops as part of an aid extended by the programme.