Special camps held to assist persons with disabilities, says Harbhajan Singh ETO

Amritsar, January 30

Punjab Minister Harbhajan Singh ETO, while inaugurating a camp to distribute assistive devices to persons with disabilities (PWDs) at Jandiala Guru, said the special camps were organised by ALIMCO (Artificial Limbs Manufacturing Corporation of India) about two months back at several places to find out about the needs of disabled persons.

Speaking on the occasion, ETO said the basic needs of the disabled have been met by organising camps and distributing assistive devices as per the requirements of PWDs. He said that at today’s camp, 680 support measures worth about Rs 45 lakh were distributed to 334 people. Helmets have also been distributed to the disabled, besides tricycles, he said, and added that according to the needs of each person, the equipment was customised.

Apart from tricycles, wheel-chairs, smart-phones, smart canes, walking sticks have also been distributed. ETO also spoke about the formation of the Road Safety Force in Punjab to check road accidents and administer first aid to the injured. The minister said that 116 more Aam Aadmi Clinics are being opened with the aim of providing health facilities to the common people closer to home and treatment will be free of cost in all government hospitals. Patients will no longer have to take medicines from outside, he added.