Bhubaneswar: To help differently-abled students succeed as professionals, the state government has planned to set up a separate university for the disabilities, besides introducing separate departments in the existing universities.
This was informed by secretary of Social Security and Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (SSEPD) Department Nitin Chandra here Monday. He was addressing a press conference convened by Chief Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities (CCPD), Kamlesh Kumar Pandey.
“We are lacking professionals and experts to provide teaching, training and other services to the persons with disabilities (PwDs). Unless a university is established, how can we produce such experts or professionals?” Chandra asked.
Similarly, the state government is also mulling to open separate departments and introduce new courses for the differently-abled students, he said.
The SSEPD department has submitted a proposal to the Higher Education Department in this regard and the latter is examining it, he added.
Pandey has been visiting the state from January 27 to 29 and has interacted with Governor SC Jamir, Chief Secretary Aditya Prasad Padhi, secretaries of various departments and some NGOs.
During his meeting with Padhi and other secretaries, Pandey urged the state government to set up eye banks in all medical colleges of the state. “At present only one medical college in the state has an eye bank. I have appealed to the officers to open such banks in all medical colleges so that more people can donate their eyes after death and those with vision problems can be helped,” he said.
The CCPD has also urged the state government to enhance the monthly pension being provided to the PwDs at par with states like Goa and Haryana. Currently, Goa is providing Rs 3,500 per person (above 90 per cent disabled) per month and Rs 2,000 to PwD (40 to 90 per cent), while Haryana is giving Rs 1800 per month, the chief commissioner said. He added, “The state government should also enhance their pension in a phased manner. During the meeting, Chief Secretary has assured me that the government will look into the matter from next year onwards.”
Replying to a query on the performance of NGOs in state, he said, “While some are doing well, the performance of others are not up to the mark. I have received lots of complaints in this regard. A strong mechanism should be adopted and the poorly performing NGOs should be black listed.”
PNN