AP to launch special welafre scheme for disabled: Minister

Hyderabad, June 23 (UNI) Andhra Pradesh Women Development and Child Welfare Minister N Rajyalaxmi today said the government would soon launch a special scheme for the welfare of disabled with the assistance of National Handicap Finance Corporation (NHFC) in the state.

Addressing a press conference here, Ms Rajyalaxmi said Self Help Groups (SHGs) of the disabled would be constituted in 100 mandals and the government would distribute subsidised loans for their uplift.

The government and the NHFC would allocate Rs three crore for the scheme during this year.

Mandal Disabled Samakyas would also be set up in 1100 mandals by the end of 2009 to help the disabled to avail benefits of the welfare programmes taken up by the government, she said.

Stating that the government was planning to set up 'Sound Libraries' for blind students and distribute Braile books, she said the total number of disabled persons in the state was 13.4 lakh as per the 2001 census.

The disabled welfare department would take up a special survey to consolidate actual number of the disabled.

UNI