SWAVLAMBAN, National Fair on Aid & Assistive Devices Begins

EFT Bureau, New Delhi: The Secretary, Department of Disability Affairs, Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, Ms. Stuti Kacker in a curtain raiser press conference on National Fair on Aid & Assistive Devices ‘SWAVLAMBAN’ spoke at length about the policy formulation and implementation of various schemes of the Government for rehabilitation of Persons with Disabilities.

The Secretary further added that the National Policy for Persons with Disabilities, 2006 recognizes persons with disabilities as valuable human resource and focuses on their physical, economic and educational rehabilitation. There are several schemes and programs for their empowerment at both Central and State level. These schemes are implemented through the Central Government and State Governments, Artificial Limbs Manufacturing Corporation of India, National Handicapped Finance Development Corporation and National Institutes located in various parts of the country and other associated organizations like National Trust, Rehabilitation Council of India and Non Governmental Organizations.

The Secretary also said that a need has been felt for wider dissemination of information and to bring various agencies on a common platform, to facilitate multi-lateral exchange of views, knowledge, expertise and experience, and to come out with the best available solution to address the various needs of Persons with Disabilities in line with technological advancement and global practices.

A four day National Fair on Aid & Assistive Devices ‘SWAVLAMBAN’, the first of its kind by the Department of Disability Affairs is being organized at Pragati Maidan. Artificial Limbs Manufacturing Corporation of India, a Public Sector Enterprise fully owned by Government of India and one of the largest manufacturers of wide range of Aid & Assistive Devices for Persons with Disabilities in entire South Asia, will host the event on behalf of the Ministry.

Aid & Assistive devices include assistive, adaptive, and rehabilitative devices for people with disabilities. They provide greater independence by enabling people to perform tasks that they formerly had great difficulty accomplishing, by providing enhancement to, or changing methods of interacting with, the technology needed to accomplish these tasks and to live a life of dignity.

ALIMCO has been manufacturing variety of aids and appliances for different categories of disability under one roof. These includes Mobility and Writing Aids; aids for visually, hearing & mentally impaired; Cervical & Spinal Braces; Lower and Upper Prosthetics; Calipers and their accessories etc.

A total of approx. 50 participants from across the country are expected to take part in the National Fair to present and demonstrate equipments for use by Persons with Disabilities. The event has been scheduled for a period of four days mainly to facilitate wide interactions and free exchange of ideas among the participants.