Mirabai hints at filling up vacant Commissioner for handicaps post

IMPHAL, April 22: Efforts are on to fill the vacant post of Commissioner for Handicaps at the earliest and there is all likelihood that it would be done so after the April 27 Chief Secretary level meeting, said Social Welfare Minister AK Mirabai.

The only woman in the state cabinet who holds the Social Welfare portfolio was speaking at the release function of a journal “Matamgi Shingnaba” at her office chamber.

The release function of the first edition of the journal was organized by the Handicapped Development (HD) Foundation.

Speaking further, the Minister said the government is trying to uplift and improve the condition of the Deaf and Mute School opened under the Social Welfare Department.

There are 12 NGOs in the state opened by differently abled persons, the Minister said before adding that her department is providing funds to the organizations.

There are also efforts to count the population of differently handicapped persons in the state and announced it to the public, she said.

Declaring that the differently abled persons are like normal people, the Minister urged their parents and guardians not to conceal them inside their house but to bring them out and gain benefits from the schemes provided by the Department for their welfare.

Meanwhile, the editor Kripa Pheiroijam said the journal focuses on disability related issues and will be produced quarterly every three months.

The organization also believes that the journal will encourage any differently abled person after reading the journal, he said.