| Staff Reporter |
Itanagar, Mar 10: Three organisations representing the Divyangjan community in Arunachal Pradesh have rejected allegations of misuse of crores of rupees in the Department of Social Justice, Empowerment and Tribal Affairs.
Addressing reporters at the Arunachal Press Club here, the All Arunachal Pradesh Divyangjan Welfare Society (AAPDWS), All Arunachal Pradesh Divyangjan Youth Association (AAPDYA), and the Paralympic Association of Arunachal (PAA) stated that the allegations were made without proper verification.
AAPDWS chairman Damin Kayu said that as the parental organisation of the Divyangjan community, they had conducted inquiries and held discussions with the department regarding the allegations.
“We do not support or entertain allegations made without proper verification of facts. After cross-checking matters related to disability welfare schemes implemented by the Department of Social Justice, Empowerment and Tribal Affairs, we have not found any evidence of misuse of public funds meant for the welfare of persons with disabilities,” Kayu said.
Secretary General of PAA Techi Sonu said several projects under the Scheme for Implementation of the Persons with Disabilities Act (SIPDA) and Barrier-Free Environment (BFE) Scheme are still ongoing. He said these initiatives were launched under the Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan (Accessible India Campaign) by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment on December 3, 2015 to create a barrier-free environment for persons with disabilities.
Sonu informed that in Arunachal Pradesh, projects under the Accessible India Campaign and Barrier-Free Environment scheme began implementation during 2019–20, and in five districts the department has already released the first instalment to executing agencies after verification of physical progress, geo-tagging and MIS reports. “These projects are still ongoing and therefore cannot be termed as misuse of public funds,” he said.
Responding to charge regarding irregularities in the disbursement of pension honorarium, Sonu clarified that in the financial year 2022–23, the state had sought Rs 10,106.53 lakh for 59,325 beneficiaries under old-age and widow pension schemes, but only Rs 5,986.86 lakh was sanctioned, resulting in delays due to shortage of funds.
He said the organisations remain committed to ensuring transparency and the effective implementation of welfare schemes for persons with disabilities in the state.