Kerala to launch 'No Barriers' initiative for persons with disabilities

Thiruvananthapuram: Keralam will launch a state-wide initiative for persons with disabilities, titled 'No Barriers', this month and announce a comprehensive disability policy soon, Chief Minister V D Satheesan said on Thursday.

He was speaking after inaugurating a four-day free artificial limb distribution camp organised jointly by DP World, Rotary Club of Thiruvananthapuram Central and Bhagwan Mahaveer Viklang Sahayata Samiti (BMVSS), popularly known as Jaipur Foot, at Freemasons Hall here.

Satheesan said the initiative aimed to foster an inclusive society where persons with disabilities could live with dignity, equal opportunities and access to support, without being left behind.

The proposed disability policy would incorporate advanced facilities and practices adopted in developed countries, he said.

The government wanted to assure persons with disabilities and senior citizens that they were not alone and that it stood by them, the CM said. He added that Keralam was the first state in the country to establish a separate department for senior citizens.

Appreciating the humanitarian initiatives undertaken by Rotary clubs and DP World since the 2018 floods, he said the ongoing camp would help around 400 beneficiaries by providing advanced artificial limbs and other assistive devices free of cost.

During the function, Satheesan handed over an artificial limb to Anugraha L V Nair, a Class 6 student who lost a leg in a road accident in June this year, according to a statement.

The camp, being held from November 12 to 15, will benefit 400 persons with disabilities from various parts of Keralam and Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu. Artificial limbs, calipers and other assistive devices will be provided free of cost.

Each beneficiary's individual requirements will be assessed, and suitable devices will be custom-made and fitted using Jaipur Foot technology, the organisers said.

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