Soon, new dept to cater to the differently-abled

NEW DELHI: The Social Welfare department of Delhi government is likely to create a different department for the welfare of differently-abled citizens. Delhi Social Welfare Minister Rajendra Pal Gautam recently raised the need for the new department with Chief Minister Manish Sisodia.

"In several visits to the city offices of the differently-abled people, the minister saw that there are many issues which the government needs to deal separately. Thereafter, the thought for a different department came up," said a Delhi government official.

Delhi, like other states, has a Social Welfare department, which takes care of all issues concerning the differently-abled people.

"We have the Commission for Persons with Disabilities under the Delhi government. But everyday, the work is increasing and we think that to properly serve the differently-abled people of the city, a different department will be needed," the official said.

Since taking the charge of the Social Welfare department, Gautam has visited many offices and studied all the problems faced by persons with disabilities.

Earlier, a mobile app for self-employment loan applicants from the Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe, Other Backward Caste, minorities and differently-abled communities was launched by the Delhi government.

The Social Welfare Minister said that the scheme would cover coaching for examinations for the civil services, medical, engineering, banking and Group A and Group B jobs in the government.

The minister now has in mind some development works for the differently-abled and to make the city more friendly to their needs.

Meanwhile, the Disability Amendment Bill has also been cleared by Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal, which will help the Delhi government bring new systems for the differently-abled.