Govt ardent of Divyangjans’ welfare: CM
Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has said that the National Institute of Mental Health and Research being built at Sehore and the sports complex being constructed for the differently-abled at Gwalior by the Government of India are unique gifts for the State.
The State Government is continuously active for the welfare of Divyangjans. Identity cards have been made available to about 6 lakh Divyangjans in the state. The Central Government is also extending full cooperation in this direction. Chouhan was addressing a meeting at Mantralaya along with Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment Thawarchand Gehlot. Social Justice and Disabled Welfare Minister Prem Singh Patel, Chief Secretary Iqbal Singh Bains, Principal Secretary Social Justice and Disabled Welfare Prateek Hajela, Commissioner of Disability welfare Sandeep Rajak and other officers were present in the meeting.
It was informed that the Institute of Mental Health and Research is being constructed in Sehore by the Government of India at a cost of `179.40 crores. For this, 25 acres of land has been provided free of cost by the state government. Certificate courses and training activities on mental health will be conducted in this national level institute to be completed by June 2022. In Gwalior, 34 acres of land has been provided free of cost by the state government for the sports complex being built for the differently-abled at a cost of 170 crores.
Union Minister Thawarchand Gehlot congratulated Chouhan for being the first in the country to issue identity cards to Divyangjans. It was informed in the meeting that against the target of 6 lakh 7 thousand 313 set by the Government of India, 5 lakh 97 thousand 170 persons with disabilities have been issued identity cards.
Gehlot said that Madhya Pradesh has been the first in the country to give identity cards to transgenders. It is commendable. On the basis of the identity card, financial assistance was also provided to the transgenders twice during the Corona Curfew period. It was informed that on January 8, 2021, the identity cards were first issued to transgender persons by Bhopal Collector.
Chouhan said that 33.43 lakh beneficiaries are being benefitted in the state under Indira Gandhi National Old Age and Widow and Disabled Pension Schemes run under social assistance programme.
Out of these, 11.38 lakh beneficiaries are being paid pension by the state government. Chief Minister Chouhan also requested for payment of pension amount by the Central Government for these 11.38 lakh beneficiaries.
