Jammu, Dec 3:
Governor Satya Pal Malik participated in a function organized by the Department of School Education to celebrate the ‘World Disability Day’, here today. Khurshid Ganai, Advisor to Governor; Sh. BVR Subrahmanyam, Chief Secretary; Sh. Sanjeev Verma, Divisional Commissioner Jammu; Sh. Ajeet Kumar Sahu, Secretary School Education; Sh. Ramesh Kumar, Deputy Commissioner Jammu; Sh. M. Iqbal Lone, Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities; Prof Veena Pandita, Chairperson JKBOSE were present on the occasion. Governor emphasized the need to provide best possible facilities for the holistic development of persons with Special needs and stressed development of suitable infrastructure and institutions to facilitate their adjustment in society. Appreciating the activities of the School Education Department including organising sports events, providing transport facilities etc for taking care of varied interests of the Especially Abled students, Governor highlighted the need to donate liberally for helping Especially Abled persons in coping up with the routine life and honing their talents. Lauding the cultural performances presented by the Specially-Abled children, Governor announced cash awards for the performers and anchors of the cultural programme and institution of ‘J&K Government Scholarship for the Differently Abled Students’ under which scholarship of Rs 1 lakh each will be awarded every year to a meritorious specially-abled boy and girl student. Governor announced 5-day orientation programme for 30 children with special needs at Bangalore, Karnataka and an exposure visit to Mansar on 4th December, 2018 for the children performing in the function. Governor expressed high appreciation for his portrait sketched by Sh. Rahul and the performances of Master Zahid and Ms Kalash Bandral on the occasion. 7 Specially-Abled Archers undergoing training at the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Sports Complex, Katra, also displayed their archery skills before Governor on the occasion. Advisor Ganai spoke about various initiatives launched by the Government for the welfare of Specially-Abled people and stressed the need to generate awareness for promoting their welfare.
Sh. Ajeet Kumar Sahu Secretary School Education, in his Welcome Address highlighted the activities of School Education Department being done for the children with special needs.
Sh. Tufail Matoo, SPD, Samagra Shiksha, presented a Vote of Thanks.
Meanwhile, In a significant initiative for empowerment of the state’s specially-abled students, Governor Satya Pal Malik today announced institution of ‘JK Govt Scholarship Scheme for Differently Abled Students’.
Under the scheme scholarship of Rs1 lakh each will be awarded every year to a meritorious specially-abled boy and girl student on ‘International Day for Disabled Persons’ being observed annually on December 3.
The main objective of the scholarship to the students with special needs is to assist and encourage them to study as well as acquire technical/professional/vocational training so as to enable them to earn a dignified living and to become useful members of society.”Differently abled students need different types of supports to realize their dream and the Scholarship Scheme announced by the Governor would go a long way in helping the specially-abled students of the state to realize those dreams,” the Raj Bhavan spokesman said.
