Islamabad
The Capital Administration and Development Division is seeking the funds of Rs100 million for the welfare of special children of Islamabad for the year 2017-18.
This was stated by Minister of State for CADD Dr. Tariq Fazal Chaudhry during a ceremony held here on Thursday to distribute assistive devices to the children studying in the educational and technical training institutions for special education.
A total of 85 wheelchairs, walkers, white canes, crutches, commode chairs and sewing machines were given away to the needy special persons. The devices were financed by the Bait-ul-Mal and Helping Hand for Relief and Development, an NGO working for the welfare of special children.
Parliamentary Secretary for CADD Maiza Hameed was also present on the occasion. Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Tariq Fazal Chaudhry said that all initiatives taken by the CADD for the schools of Federal Directorate of Education were being replicated for the institutions of special education so that any discrimination between the two may be eliminated.
He said there was a record enrolment of 250 students this year in the special education institutions of CADD due to the provision of transport facility under the Prime Minister’s Education Reform Programme.
“This increase in enrolment will go long way in getting hundred per cent literacy rate in Islamabad for the physically and mentally challenged children,” he added. The minister said there were discussions to revise the quota of the special persons in the public sector jobs from the current two percent to four percent.
He added that the technical and professional training was essential for the financial independence of special persons which the CADD was conducting in its different technical training centres across the capital.
The distribution of devices was carried out under the theme of Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment for disabled persons. The sewing machines were provided to the skilled workers and assistive means such as wheel chairs, walkers, white canes and crutches were provided with the aim to facilitate the commute of the disabled children to their work place.
Director general of the directorate of special education said all special educational institutions were performing great humanitarian work by not only educating the special children but also by equipping them with breadwinning skills.
He said with the support of implementing partners, the directorate would provide glasses to the children with weak eyesight and support them in eye surgeries wherever required. Children performed tableaus and sang national songs at the event captivated the audience through the programme.