Keonjhar Admin Distributes 2-Wheeler Vehicles along with Retrofitted Kits to PWDs 

Keonjhar: The Keonjhar district administration aims to provide all-round services and facilities to the People with Disabilities (PWDs) for enabling better quality of life.

In this context, ‘Distribution of 2-Wheeler Vehicles along with Retrofitted Kits under District Mineral Foundation (DMF) Keonjhar’ was done on Thursday for empowering the PWDs for their livelihood means and ease in travel and mobility support for educational provisions.

Earlier, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik announced this innovative initiative on 13th February 2023 by distributing two ‘2 Wheeler Vehicles with Retrofit Kits’to the eligible beneficiaries.

Today, a total of Ninety-eight (98) ‘2 Wheeler Vehicles with Retrofit Kits’ were distributed to the eligible PWD beneficiaries in presence of District Collector & Magistrate cum Chairman DMF Keonjhar Ashish Thakare; Chief Development Officer cum Executive Officer Zilla Parishad (CDO cum EO ZP) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) DMF Keonjhar; Additional District Magistrate (ADM) (General) Keonjhar; Regional Traffic Officer (RTO) Keonjhar; District Social Security Officer (DSSO) Keonjhar; EO Municipality Keonjhar; and other district officials.

Collector Keonjhar informed the audience that several initiatives like DMF Sakshyam – Advanced Rehabilitation Centre (ARC) for rehabilitation, enhancing early recovery, comfortable prosthetics and orthosis, provision of Motorized Electric Wheelchairs etc, along with DMF Jagruti for De-addiction & Rehabilitation Centre; DMF Ashraya – a Shelter Home for Homeless People with Mental Illness have been initiated.

DSSO informed that the initiative for Distribution of ‘2-Wheeler Vehicles along with Retrofitted Kits under DMF Keonjhar’ to the PWDs is aimed to:

o Assist PWDs from being excluded, isolated and being locked into poverty.

o Enhance the commute, mobility with respect and dignity.

o Maintain, improve PWDs functioning and independence, thereby promoting their well-being.

o Reduce the need for formal support from others for mobility and travel.

o Decrease the impact of disability on PWDs, their family, and society.

o Enhance the livelihood means and sustainability for future.

o Propelling the economic progress of PWDs.

► The criteria for selection of the PWD beneficiaries was as follows:

o Willingness for owing, utilizing, and maintaining the Retrofitted Bikes.

o Employed /Office going differently abled persons.

o For enhancement in livelihood means (Business/Shop owners).

o College going differently abled students.

► Further, DSSO also informed that a multi-disciplinary committee of Specialists Doctors and Physiotherapists from the office of Chief District Medical & Public Health Officer (CDM&PHO) Keonjhar along with officials from District Social Security Officer (DSSO) Keonjhar was formed for assessing the willing PWDs beneficiaries to ascertain their Physical Fitness for driving these ‘2 Wheeler Vehicles with Retrofitted Kits’.

DSSO Keonjhar officials with support from RTO assisted these PWDs for availing Driving Licence from the office of RTO Keonjhar.

These 100 ‘2-Wheeler Vehicles along with Retrofitted Kitsunder DMF Keonjhar’ are the 1st Batch to be distributed by District Administration Keonjhar, Govt of Odisha. Further, it has been planned to distribute more of these 2-Wheeler Vehicles with Retrofit Kits in near future.

Beneficiary Kedarnath Barik, a student studying in college said that “provision of a vehicle is a great gesture from the District Administration, Keonjhar while recognising the everyday struggles we face, this will help students like me to access education services without any barrier”.

Another beneficiary Pramod Kumar Khuntia, small business owner said that “he has a small business in a nearby town, however public transport is not available, and he is dependent on is family and friends for everyday commute; in this context, his own personal vehicle will make his life easy, and he would like to thank Hon. CM for this initiative under DMF Keonjhar, Odisha.”