Haldwani: On the occasion of World Disability Day, the Social Welfare Department organized a state-level efficiency award distribution ceremony at the Haldwani MBPG College Auditorium. At the event, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami presented 41 participants with disabilities with prize money of ₹8,000, medals, certificates, and certificates. The Chief Minister personally met with each participant to boost their morale. He also laid the foundation stone for the Multipurpose Office Building of the Multipurpose Finance and Development Corporation Limited and the Social Welfare IT Cell, to be constructed in Dehradun at a cost of ₹905.13 lakh, and inaugurated the Prime Minister’s Divyangsa Kendra, Nainital (ALIMCO).
The Chief Minister stated that this day is not merely a formality, but an opportunity to honor extraordinary individuals who have transformed challenges into opportunities and struggles into inspiration, giving direction to society. He stated that disability may exist in the body, but not in dreams, and that today our disabled brothers and sisters are bringing glory to the nation in every field.
He shared inspiring examples such as India’s first Paralympic gold medalist, Murlikant Petkar, who crossed the English Channel, Satyendra Singh Lohia, and Sheetal Devi, who became the world para-archery champion without arms. The Chief Minister also expressed pride in the recent victory of the Indian women’s disabled cricket team in the T20 Blind Women’s World Cup 2025 in Colombo.
The Chief Minister stated that both the national and state governments are committed to providing equal opportunities and a dignified life to persons with disabilities.
Key Schemes Illustrated by the Chief Minister
The Chief Minister stated that financially disadvantaged persons with disabilities are provided with a monthly pension of ₹1,500, a monthly maintenance grant of ₹700 to parents of children with disabilities, a monthly pension of ₹1,200 under the Tilu Rauteli Special Disability Pension Scheme and the Dwarf Pension Scheme, increasing the horizontal reservation for persons with disabilities in government jobs from 3% to 4%, scholarships for students with disabilities, a ₹7,000 grant for prosthetic limbs, an incentive of ₹50,000 for marrying a person with a disability, free online coaching for civil services exams for students with disabilities, and integrated benefits of all schemes are being provided through District Disability Rehabilitation Centers.
Additionally, online hearings have been established at the Commissioner for Disabilities’ office in Dehradun, and a rehabilitation home for the mentally disabled has been constructed in Udham Singh Nagar. The state’s first “Prime Minister’s Disability Center” has also been established in Dehradun. For the first time since the state’s formation, a disability survey has been initiated, allowing for an accurate assessment of the actual number and needs of persons with disabilities.
