Bachchu Kadu suggest an independent director in education department for Divyang Education
Pune, 11th March 2024: To make the education for Divyang people more effective in the state it should be routed through the education department and an independent director (preferably an ex-serviceman) should be appointed for the purpose as the Divyang Welfare Department is already loaded with a lot of other administrative work opined Bachchu Kadu, Chairman of the state level committee for the Divyang Welfare Department after inaugurating the one day state level workshop on planning for welfare of Divyang that took place at the SPPU Campus today.
The workshop was organized by the Divyang Welfare Department of the state government, Science and Technology Park, Pune, SPPU and Bal Kalyan Sanstha. During the workshop experts from various fields discussed topics related to Divyang citizens and solutions to make their lives better.
Padamashree Pratap Pawar, President of Bal kalyan Sanstha, Retired Lt Gen Rajendra Nimbhorkar, SPPU VC Dr Suresh Gosavi, Pro VC Parag Kalkar, Registrar Vijay Khare, MCCIA President Deepak Karandikar, STP’s Director General & CEO Dr Rajendra Jagdale, Asst Commissioner of Divyang Welfare Department Sanjay Kadam, former Commissioner of the department Omprakash Deshmukh and Dr Dinesh Doke were present on the occasion.
Kadu who is known for his work for the Divyang people 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 the stakeholders should encourage such research. Secondly, while providing solutions to the Divyang people, a thought must be applied to envision the possible challenges that a Divyang may face after he / she starts using the solution. He sought an example of how the Divyang with a problem in legs started facing problems with hands when hand driven 3 wheelers were given to them for mobility. He also laid emphasis upon the effective rehabilitation of the persons whose disability can neither be removed nor can be reduced.
He expressed concerns over the budget allocation for Divyang Welfare. He said that out of 6 Lakh Cr state budget only 1400 Cr is allocated for Divyang Welfare, Whereas, considering the provision of utilization of 5% of the funds by every department for the Divyang welfare, an amount close to 30,000 Cr should be allocated for the purpose. In his speech, he thanked CM 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. He concluded by mentioning that the deliberation made in this workshop should lead us to the actionable inputs in the form of a report which can then be submitted to the state cabinet for an appropriate GR to be issued.
CM Eknath Shinde who addressed the gathering through a video message which was played at the time of the inaugural session of this workshop. He said that approximately 3 percent of the state’s population is Divyang. A lot of schemes are being implemented by the government for their welfare. He expressed his government’s commitment for Divyang welfare by saying that the state of Maharashtra has become the first state in the country to have an independent department of Divyang welfare.
CM further said that we must look at the use of technology to make the lives of Divyang better. He informed that the Department of Social Justice will soon sign a MoU with Science and Technology Park (STP), Pune. Here STP will work as a Mission Partner and will facilitate the creation of over 100 companies in the next 2 years which will be run by the Divyang entrepreneurs and will have the potential to employ 100 Divyang persons in each company.
CM 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. The state department for Divyang welfare will fund the creation of this center for excellence.
