Bhubaneswar: Odisha Minister for Social Security & Empowerment of Persons with Disability Ashok Chandra Panda today inaugurated a battery-operated vehicle for transportation of specially-abled persons inside the Lokseva Bhawan premises.
Specially-abled persons visiting Lokseva Bhawan can avail the services of the vehicle from the reception centre to visit any department on the premises.
“This novel service was launched by the SSEPD department of the State government today,” informed Panda speaking to reporters at the Lok Seva Bhawan here today.
“This is a very happy moment for us. Now our specially-abled brothers and sisters can use this vehicle for commuting from the reception counter to anywhere within the premises of Lokseva Bhawan,” said Suresh Chandra Behera, a specially-abled person.
The Minister further informed that specially-abled persons in the State can now avail benefits under various schemes of the State government with the help of the identity card, the exercise for which is underway.
He, however, pointed out that reservation for specially-abled persons will be limited to 4% and in education, it will be 5%.
He clarified that earlier specially-abled persons could avail of the benefits only under the Madhu Babu Pension Yojana on the basis of disability certificate issued by the department.