POST NEWS NETWORK
BHUBANESWAR:The department of Social Security and Empowerment of persons with disability (SSEPD) has lined up an array of events commencing December 1 to coincide with International Day of persons with disability. Outlining the schedule at I&PR office here Tuesday, SSEPD department director Manasi Nimbhal told newsmen the three-day event will comprise 2nd Ability Marathon, a film festival, bike rally, blood donation camp and free health check-up camp among other things. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik will inaugurate people with disability (PwD) hostels for girls at Ramadevi Women’s University, an e-library for the blind at VRCH campus and a food production centre. Manasi said e-book library will have facilities for visually impaired students including audio books and Braille books. “Handicrafts and food products produced by the disabled will be bought by some company under a tie-up with the government. For this, we had collaborated with some Indian companies,” she revealed. More than 3600 participants will take part in the ability marathon December 2. The marathon will have six categories – 10 km for athletes, five-kilometre for schoolchildren, one kilometre for senior citizens, 400 metres for visually impaired, 200-metre for people with calipers, 400metre for people with tricy
cles.
The prize money under each category will be Rs 25,000, Rs 15,000 and Rs 5,000 respectively. Actor, model and fitness promoter Milind Soman will be the star guest to take part in marathon for the athletes. Soman’s participation will add value to the event as he is a fitness freak and had many marathons including the Ultraman Florida, one of the most formidable triathlons around the world, to his credit. During the three-day race, he covered 520 kilometres. Manasi said a two-day children’s film festivals will be organised at Idcol Auditorium beginning December 1.
A multiple sports event will also be organised for differently abled students at Unit I Govt High School here. Films based on disability will be screened on the occasion. They include: Iqbal and Paa. The proposed bike rally will be organised December 3 in which hearing-impaired will take part. “We expect about 50 motorcyclists to take part in the bike rally,” she hoped. An exhibition for the differently-abled women SHGs will be organised at Adivasi Grounds from December 1. A free health checkup camp will be organised at the venue where free medicines will be distributed under Nirmaya scheme. A blood donation camp will be organised for the benefit of Thalasemia patients.
At least 19 state awards will be presented to people, institutes and districts for their distinguished achievement at the ceremony December 3. Free laptops will also be provided to differently-abled Plus III students on the occasion.