Ambika Pandit
NEW DELHI: Reaching out to 1 crore people with the message to fight against drug addiction over the next 100 days in schools, colleges and hotspots, and covering persons with disabilities (PWDs) in 100 aspirational blocks with disability related schemes are the focus of social justice and empowerment minister Virendra Kumar.
Soon after assuming office for the second consecutive term, Kumar said that enhancing access to employment opportunities for the PWDs through job fairs and bringing focus on “Accessible India 2.0” campaign with immediate thrust on health infrastructure are some of the other key priorities in keeping with PM Narendra Modi’s vision.
“We will fight drug addiction in mission mode under Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan,” Virendra Kumar told TOI.
Reportedly 75,000 recovered drug users will be part of the campaign to send out a strong message that “prevention is better than cure”. Reinforcing and streamlining the reach of scholarship programmes for marginalized communities is on the cards, he said.
DEPwD officials plan to cover all 500 aspirational blocks by next year, he said. “Linking persons with disabilities to employment opportunities under the PM-DAKSH scheme will also be a priority,” Kumar said.
He said that Garima Greh’s (shelters) for transgenders will be set up in all states where residents will be linked to education, skills and employment opportunities to enable their mainstreaming. There are 12 such shelters as of now. “Transgender welfare will be a key focus area,” he added.