Divyang kids key component of state's human resources: Assam CM

The national health fest for divyang children and athletes was organised in Guwahati on the occasion of World Health Day on Thursday.

Addressing the gathering at Sarusajai Stadium, Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said that the state government has taken several initiatives for the empowerment of 'specially-abled children who are an important component of the state's human resources.

"The state government under the Deendayal Divyang Pension Scheme has been paying monthly Rs 1000 to more than one lakh beneficiaries. Under the Deendayal Disabled Rehabilitation Scheme, several divyang people have been benefitted in the state," Sarma said.

Moreover, specially-abled people have been given more than 1.20 lakh unique disability identity cards (UDID) cards in the state.

"Scholarships have also been awarded to the specially-abled students," he said.

The event was organised in 75 cities across the country with the projected participation of more than 75,000 children and athletes with intellectual disabilities.

The chief minister also requested the parents of specially-abled children below six years of age with hearing difficulty to avail the benefits of the state government's special scheme, 'Sneha Sparsha,' to get free cochlear implants for their kids to lead normal life.

Organised by Special Olympic Bharat, social welfare and health and family welfare departments, the National Health Fest is an effort to provide consultations on dental health and other health parameters of people with intellectual disabilities.

The event was organised in 75 cities across the country with the projected participation of more than 75,000 children and athletes with intellectual disabilities.

In Assam, the event, organised in Guwahati and Jorhat, also provided health consultations and vaccines for the COVID 19 pandemic to specially-abled children.