Lift for differently abled persons inaugurated

Ongole: Social Welfare Minister Dr Dola Sree Bala Veeranjaneya Swamy, along with district Collector P Raja Babu, Ongole MLA Damachala Janardhan Rao, Santhanuthalapadu MLA BN Vijay Kumar and Joint Collector Kalpana Kumari, inaugurated a special lift facility at Prakasam Collectorate on Wednesday, built at Rs 43 lakh to help differently abled persons and senior citizens access upper floors without difficulty.

Speaking at the programme, the Minister said the lift was set up under the Scheme for Implementation of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act (SIPDA) of the Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. Andhra Pradesh Medical Services and Infrastructure Development Corporation completed the construction. The government had already released Rs 23.50 lakh as the first instalment. The lift can carry 13 persons at a time, and a ramp has been provided for wheelchair users.

Swamy said that about 28500 differently abled persons were identified in Prakasam district, and assistive devices would be distributed to 15000 of them in phases. The government was providing free bus travel under the Divyanga Shakti scheme, Rs 6000 in pension to differently abled persons, and Rs 15000 to bedridden persons.

District Revenue Officer Venkata Ramana, differently abled welfare officer Suvarta, and others attended.

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