On November 18, 2020, The Punjab Cabinet headed by Chief Minister, Captain Amarinder Singh approved the ‘Punjab Divyangjan Shaktikaran Yojana’ to empower persons with disabilities in a virtual meeting.
The Scheme will be implemented in Two Phases.
Phase-I will strengthen the existing programmes to ensure that benefits reach people with disabilities.
Phase-II will introduce 13 new interventions proposed to be undertaken for empowerment of such persons.
Features of the Scheme:
i.The scheme will ensure the filling of the backlog of people with disabilities (PwDs) in Government jobs.
ii.The department employment generation will give thrust on filling vacant posts of PwDs in six months.
iii.A consultative group headed by Minister for Social Security and Women and Child Development consisting all Cabinet Ministers will supervise the implementation of the scheme.
iv.It aims to converge 30 existing schemes and programmes. The facilities include Free Concessional Travel in Government Buses, Skill Development and Vocational Training, Sports for players with Disabilities, UDID Card – Single Identity Card for persons with disabilities, Financial Assistance to Disabled Persons.
Phase-I:
The scheme would focus on providing to PwDs the benefits of existing schemes being run by various Government departments with a goal to reach out to all of them in the state, so as to provide services/benefits/rights in respect of healthcare, education, employment, safety and dignity in all spheres of life.
Phase-II:
Department has proposed 13 interventions which include Treatment on suffering disability, Mobility Aids & Assistive Devices, Home Schooling Scheme for Children with Special Needs, State Award for Outstanding Work Done by Teachers with Disability.
Other Approvals:
Punjab Cabinet approves new telecommunication guidelines to create robust telecommunication infrastructure with adequate bandwidth & to promote information technology, e-governance and e-commerce in the State.
- The new guidelines will supersede the Telecom Policy notified on December 5, 2013 and December 11, 2015.
Recent Related News:
i.On October 2, 2020 Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh virtually launched the construction of 750 Rural Stadiums and Playgrounds in Punjab.
About Punjab:
Rivers – Satluj, Beas, Ravi, Chenab, Jhelum
Festivals – Baisakhi, Lohri
