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Tuesday 27 August 2013

Putting them on the fast track to success : Kochi

Taking a cue from the success of last year’s project, the District  Panchayat will distribute 400 more paraplegic-friendly vehicles. Last year, it had distributed 68 vehicles thus helping many differently abled  to  eke out a decent living.


“We are distributing vehicles worth Rs 60,000. The district panchayat has already earmarked Rs 2 crore in this regard. We have invited applications and the last date is Friday,” District Panchayat president Eldhose Kunnapilly said.


There are certain criterion to avail the benefits of the project. The project is not open in the Municipality and the Corporation limits but only in panchayats. The applicant should have more than 40 per cent disability.  His/ her upper part of the body should be in perfect shape to ride the vehicle. The applicant must be drawing less than Rs 30,000 annually as income. The application should be written in a white paper and must be submitted at the Social Justice Department at Kakkanad.


Eldose Kunnapilly said those who have not received the benefits of the  scheme before can apply. It should be certified by a panchayat secretary and  a district panchayat member. Only those who are below 60 need to apply. “Though we give priority for those with licence, we will not exempt those  who does not have it. A medical board will examine and determine the disability. The vehicles will be distributed after that,” he said.
Once every criterion are fulfilled, we will start distribution of the vehicle by December. Purchasing 400 vehicles at a stretch is a hard task. So, we will buy 20-25 vehicles and distribute it. Last year, the vehicles made by Mahindra were distributed. But, we are yet to finalise it,” he said.


Kunnappilly said the vehicles will be retained as the assets of the District Panchayat. “In many similar projects undertaken by other entities, the beneficiary has to put in some money. Here, we are trying to distribute it free to the poor. Investing money will be a Herculean task for them. So the vehicles will remain as district panchayat’s assets,” he said.


Source : The New Indian Express , 26th August 2013

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