Welfare Measures for Disabled, Transgender and Senior Citizens Assured
Visakhapatnam: District collector of Parvathipuram Manyam A. Shyam Prasad unveiled plans to establish Sadaram Centers aimed at enhancing the welfare of disabled individuals, transgender persons and senior citizens.
The collector emphasised the government's commitment to providing financial assistance, including pensions and transport passes for these communities. He highlighted the need for educational and employment reservations and announced upcoming camps across the district to help disabled individuals obtain necessary certificates.
Addressing the transgender community, he pledged to work towards providing housing plots, ration cards, and employment opportunities. He also instructed officials to form a dedicated committee to tackle the challenges faced by these groups.
Identity cards were distributed to 49 transgender individuals, with the collector congratulating ten of them for being graduates.
K. Kavitha, Assistant director of welfare for disabled, transgender and senior citizens, provided an overview of existing welfare schemes. She reported that job reservations for disabled individuals are being implemented at 4% based on a roster point system. Currently, the district supports 17,034 disabled persons, 129 transgender individuals, and 79,498 senior citizens with old age pensions. Bus and train passes, along with scholarships for disabled students, are also being issued. Kavitha noted that 135 transgender individuals have been identified in the district, with 82 receiving certificates and identity cards. Additionally, the government has provided essential aids, including wheelchairs, tricycles, motorcycles, cell phones, and laptops. Eight individuals have secured loans totaling 22 lakh rupees to support self-employment initiatives.
