State inks pacts for welfare of PwDs

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Bhubaneswar: The state government Wednesday signed two memoranda of understanding (MoUs) with an international organisation Sightsavers India for the development of Persons with Disability (PwDs).
The agency signed the first agreement with Social Security and Empowerment of Persons with Disability (SSEPD) to ensure socio-economic development of the PwDs and inclusive eye care services for vulnerable population in 12 districts of the state. The second agreement was signed with Orissa Primary Education Programme Authority (OPEPA), functioning under the School and Mass Education (S&ME) department, for strengthening inclusive education programme in the state.
According to sources, the Sightsavers India will provide technical support to SSEPD department and facilitate inclusion of PwDs in matters related to employment in private sectors, skill development and would also help in developing sustainable livelihood models for PwDs in the state.
Besides working with the SSEPD department, the organisation will commission with other government agencies like Odisha Livelihood Mission, Vocational Rehabilitation Centre, Odisha Rural Development and Marketing Society for the betterment of the PWDs. The partnership will benefit more than 3 lakh youths with disabilities and develop inclusive panchayat models responsible for PWDs, sources said.
Sightsavers will also work on strengthening the disabled people’s organisations and their network in the state by building their knowledge about disabled rights and policies.
The organisation will also provide eye care services to vulnerable population like widows,
transgender, elderly people and PwDs in Ganjam, Gajapati, Dhenkanal, Kalahandi, Kandhamal, Bargarh, Angul, Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, Deogarh, Khurda and Cuttack districts.
SSEPD Minister Prafulla Samal said the government is committed to improving the standard of
living of the PWDs in the state and the agreement with Sightsavers will provide a fillip to the state government’s work for their welfare.
The agency will provide inclusive education for blind and low vision students in Odisha. As part of the MoU, Sightsavers will provide technical support to OPEPA in strengthening the mainstream education for blind and low vision children studying in general schools across the state.
The organisation has set a
target to provide benefits of the project to around 25,000 visually impaired students. It will also promote friendly environment in schools for approximately 1.3 lakh students with special needs currently enrolled in general schools of the state.