The biggest ever Samajik Adhikarita Shivir for distribution of Aids & Assistive Devices to Divyangjan (PwDs) will be organized at Rajkot (Gujarat) on 29th June 2017 by the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (Divyangjan), Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India through ALIMCO, Kanpur, a CPSU under the Department. The camp will be held at Race Course Ground in Rajkot, Gujarat where assistive Aids and Appliances will be distributed under ADIP scheme of Govt. of India to Divyangjans in the august presence of the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, Chief Minister of Gujarat Shri Vijay Rupani and Union Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment Shri Thaawarchand Gehlot. Besides Union Ministers of State for Social Justice and Empowerment Shri Ramdas Athwale, Shri Krishna Pal Gurjar, Shri Vijay Sampla, Minister of Gujarat for Social Justice and Empowerment, Women and Child Development Shri Atmaram Parmar, Member of Parliament Shri Mohanbhai Kundariya and other State dignitaries will also be present during the function.

The camp is being conducted under the ADIP Scheme of Govt. of India. The scheme is in vogue since 1981 and has been revised with effect from 01st April 2014. The main objective of the scheme is to provide latest and modern aids mainly manufactured by Artificial Limbs Manufacturing Corporation of India (ALIMCO) and distributed by National Institutes, District Disability Rehabilitation Centres, State Handicapped Development Corporations, other local bodies and NGOs. These aids are being given to the Divyangjans to promote their physical, social and psychological rehabilitation.

The distribution camp at Rajkot wherein 18430 beneficiaries are going to be served is the biggest camp in the history of the nation in terms of beneficiaries. The earlier such camps previously conducted by the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, Govt. of India were at Varanasi, Navsari & Vadodara in the year 2016, wherein 10000, 11000 and 8000 beneficiaries approx, were served.

ALIMCO is a major implementing agency under the ADIP Scheme and has conducted assessment camps of Divyangjan residing in Rajkot district with the focus to cover maximum population of divyangjan specially from distant rural areas. The assessments have been conducted with the help of District Administration, Rajkot in two phases; Phase –I from 15th May, 2017 to 21^st May, 2017 and Phase-II from 12th June, 2017 to 18th June, 2017.

In the Mega ADIP Camp at least total number of 18430 beneficiaries have been identified in the assessment camps. Out of this 10100 beneficiaries have been assessed by ALIMCO to whom 14828 no. of appliances will be distributed at an estimated cost of Rs. 5.60 Crores under ADIP Scheme of Government of India and 5330 beneficiaries have been assessed by National Institute for Empowerment of Persons with Intellectual Disabilities (Divyangjan) (NIEPID), Secundarabad for distribution of TLM Kit for persons with intellectual impairment. 3000 Beneficiaries have also been identified by District Administration for distribution of various appliances.

The items proposed to be distributed include both, conventional aids required for daily living like crutches, walking stick, wheelchairs, tricycles, Hearing Aids etc., and also the High-end-devices aimed at imparting education, training, information technology awareness and to serve as direct or indirect means for self employment and enhancing living conditions in general.

Among the assistive devices that are to be distributed in the camp, Major appliances are :

·                     Battery operated Motorized Tricycle

·                     Artificial Limbs

·                     Special chair for CP (Cerebral Palsy) patients

·                     Education/ Modern Gadgets like Daisy Player

·                     Smart Phone with Screen Reading

·                     Software for low vision / visually impaired

·                     Kits for Persons with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities

·                     BTE Digital Type Hearing Aid

A day before the camp, a Guinness World Record will be attempted by 1500 people, the highest number of participation in a sign language lesson at a single venue. The attempt will better the previous world record held by China with 978 people. The topic of the lesson will be our National Anthem. The lesson will be instructed by the qualified sign language teacher. Date of Attempt is 28 June 2017 at Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Kalawad Road, Rajkot. All those who have attempted the record will also present their performance in front of the Prime Minister during the distribution day on 29th June 2017.

Another Guinness World Record is being attempted in the category with highest number of Orthosis (Calipers) fitted to mobility impaired persons on a single day. Acceptance of request of this category is awaited from Guinness World Record authority in London.

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APS/SB

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