Appoint independent director for Divyang education: Bachchu Kadu

Pune, Mar 11   To make education for 'divyang' (disabled) people more effective in Maharashtra, it should be routed through the Education department and an independent director (preferably an ex-serviceman) should be appointed for the purpose, suggested Bachchu Kadu, chairman of state-level committee for Divyang Welfare Department, on Monday.
He was speaking after inaugurating one-day state-level workshop on planning for welfare of Divyang that took place at the SPPU Campus here.
Speaking further, he said that a lot of high-tech research is going on in various fields, however, not much attention is given to the research which can help in avoiding any physical disability that one can get by birth.
All stakeholders should encourage such research, he said.
Secondly, while providing solutions to the Divyang people, a thought must be applied to envision possible challenges that a Divyang may face after he / she starts using the solution, he said.
He also laid emphasis on effective rehabilitation of the persons whose disability can neither be removed nor can be reduced.
Expressing concerns over budget allocation for welfare of Divyangs, Kadu said that out of Rs six lakh crore state budget, only Rs 1,400 crore are allocated for welfare of disabled, whereas, considering provision of utilisation of five per cent of the funds by every department for the Divyang welfare, an amount close to Rs 30,000 crore should be allocated for the purpose, he added.
In his speech, he thanked Chief Minister Eknath Shinde for identifying and acknowledging the need for a separate department for Diyang Welfare and hoped that Maharashtra would become the first state in the country to effectively implement the laws related to the welfare of Divyang people.
On this occasion, CM Shinde, while addressing the gathering through a video conferencing, expressed his government's commitment for Divyang welfare by saying that Maharashtra has become first state in the country to have an independent department for welfare of disabled people.
A lot of schemes are being implemented by the government for their welfare, he informed.
The Department of Social Justice will soon sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Science and Technology Park (STP), Pune to make the lives of disabled better, he added.
The Chief Minister also announced a Center for Excellence for Divyang Welfare at the SPPU campus that would be set up by the Divyang Welfare Department of the state government with the help of STP, Pune and SSPU.