Amaravati, Mar 18 (PTI) Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Wednesday launched the “Divyang Shakti” scheme here, which offers free bus travel to people with disabilities.
Billed as a special gift for the Ugadi festival, “Divyang Shakti” is focused on social equity, mobility and “last-mile dignity”. Naidu launched the scheme in the greenfield capital city of Amaravati.
Post launch, the CM, along with senior leaders, travelled with the beneficiaries on Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC) buses from Mangalagiri bus station to Penumaka village, about 11 km, said an official press release.
Later, the CM hosted lunch for a group of ‘Divyang Shakti’ beneficiaries and told them that the NDA coalition government has carried out several welfare programmes for the benefit of people over the past 21 months.
“The Divyang Shakti scheme, which started today, has given me immense satisfaction and happiness,” Naidu said, adding that specially-abled people are uniquely talented, who have the power to overcome problems to accomplish victories.
The Andhra Pradesh government is offering Rs 6,000 monthly welfare pension to specially-abled people.
The ‘Divyang Shakti’ beneficiaries can travel in five types of Andhra Pradesh State Road Transportation Corporation (APSRTC) buses for free and can save up to Rs 2,000 per month, the release added.
The scheme is expected to benefit over 12.76 lakh individuals, including 11.16 lakh persons with disabilities and their attendants, making it one of the largest state-led mobility support programmes for the differently-abled in India, the government said.
Key features of the scheme include free bus travel for people with disabilities in select APSRTC services, 50 per cent fare concession for attendants accompanying beneficiaries and eligibility for individuals with over 40 per cent disability.
The scheme will cover 21 categories of disabilities, while the government will spend Rs 207 crore on its implementation through the APSRTC.
In a coordinated statewide rollout, MLAs simultaneously launched the scheme in their respective constituencies, travelled with the beneficiaries, and participated in community outreach events.
Under the ‘Stree Shakti’ scheme, already implemented in the state, women carried out 52 crore free bus journeys, and the government spent Rs 1,826 crore for the scheme, the release added. PTI STH ADB
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