Dist to have data bank for physically disabled

For the first time, the Cooch Behar district administration is preparing a database of all physically challenged people residing in the district. The details of the physical problems of the people and their socio-economic conditions would be available on this database.

According to sources at the district magistrate’s office, the administration would provide aid and rehabilitation to these people after the database is prepared.

In Cooch Behar district, nearly 2.5 per cent of the total population or 55,000 people are physically challenged. Till November 30, 2012, the district administration has been able to certify nearly 35,000 physically challenged people through different camps. As per the present system, the administration arranges camps and distributes aid to such people, but this system is unable to address all the problems of the physically challenged population. So, now the district administration is trying to come up with a database with all the details of the physically challenged people.

Sudip Mitra, additional district magistrate, development, said: “We started making the database of physically handicapped people of the district a month ago. An NGO is doing the legwork for us and we believe that the work will end within March.”

“Through this database, we would be able to get all the details about physically challenged people of the district and also provide aid according to his or her socio-economic and physical condition. After completing the database, we have plans to send the reports to the state government and ask for funds for the development of these people,” added Mitra.

An NGO is working on the database and organising camps to identify the physically challenged people in different gram panchayats of the district.

Source : The Bengal Post , Cooch Bihar ( 22nd Feb 2013)