Divyang saavy Rayagada Collector meets OVM representatives
Rayagada (Badal Tah): The villagers alongwith family members in Kampa Sahi of Kolnara village were panic stricken because of a mentally retarded lady was continuously physically attacking them. When Collector Ashutosh Kulkarni C, who recently joined in the district, came to know about this from local persons & Sarapanch, he instructed the concerned authorities to take necessary action after which with help of Doctors, DSSO, CDPO, etc the Divyang lady was shifted to Ashra Mentally Challenged Rehabilitation Center at Malkangiri.
In spite of his busy schedule, he came out of his office chamber to meet the representatives of Odisha Vikalanga Mancha-OVM namely President Rakesh Kumar Himirika, Secretary Jalandhar Bacheli, Joint Secretary Raghunath Patra and L Ramesh Kumar.
Being unheard by district administration, OVM members staged a strike in front of Collector’s office during last December 2024. A memorandum was submitted to Parul Patwari, the then Rayagada Collector. The ten point demands included provision of mechanized three wheelers by local industries as part of their CSR, inclusion of all dibyangs in PM awas jojana, transfer of all staff in DSSO office completing three years, official celebration of International Divyang Day at district level, keeping PwD members in all district level Govt committees, establishment of District Disability Rehabilitation Centre(DDRC), availing required govt schemes for Divyangs, appointment of Dibyangs in all govt posts according to their qualification, skill and experience, installation of a lift in Collector’s office, provision of land for housing, etc.
“Unfortunately Parul Patwari did not facilitate any step in realisation of any of these demands though she assured to do the needful through the then DSDO and ADM. Hope, Kulkarni works on these demands in a phased manner”, said Rakesh Himirika, District President of Odisha Vikalanga Mancha-OVM, who is a cent percent visually impaired.
