On the occasion of International Day of Persons with Disabilities, Dr. Baljit Kaur, Minister of Social Security, Women and Child Development in Punjab, honored 12 individuals working in various fields for persons with disabilities and their families with State Awards. Participating as the chief guest in the state-level event, the Cabinet Minister stated that the Punjab government has initiated the process to fill 1,200 reserved positions in various sectors for persons with disabilities to provide them with more employment opportunities. Additionally, expedited action is being taken on the promotion of 620 existing positions.
The minister emphasized that the government stands with persons with disabilities at every step and advised them not to perceive themselves as weak at any stage of life. She encouraged individuals with disabilities to embrace their capabilities and boost their morale. Dr. Baljit Kaur highlighted the financial support provided by the Punjab government to 259,598 eligible persons with disabilities, including their children, amounting to a total of Rs 478.47 crores. She also shared that the Blind School in Ludhiana for visually impaired individuals has been upgraded to offer education up to the 12th grade, with ongoing improvements costing Rs 1.67 crores.
Furthermore, Dr. Baljit Kaur mentioned the initiatives by the Punjab SC Development Corporation to encourage self-employment for persons with disabilities. During the fiscal year 2022-23, loans amounting to Rs 129.31 lakhs were provided for 59 cases, and during the fiscal year 2023-24, loans amounting to Rs 91.77 lakhs were approved for 46 cases. The state awards were presented to individuals who have contributed significantly to improving the quality of life for persons with disabilities. The awardees included Harcharan Singh, Dr. Teavaspreet Kaur, Dr. Tapinder Jot, Ravinder Singh Sahota, Navjot Singh, Mata Gujri Sewa Kendra Budhlada, Jaspreet Kaur, Narinder Singh, Santosh Rani, and Sukhdev Singh, along with their life partners.
