Collector inaugurates nine social care centres for persons with disabilities in Tiruvannamalai

Collector Vandana Garg officially opened nine new social care centres for individuals with disabilities aged six or older in key towns across Tiruvannamalai on Thursday. These facilities, to be managed by the Welfare of Differently Abled Persons Department, aim to provide special education, early intervention services, physiotherapy, rehabilitation, and vocational training.

Currently, approximately 53,000 people with disabilities have been identified within the district. Each centre is expected to have at least five staff members, including instructors to conduct sessions. The centres will operate daily from 10 a.m. to 5:45 p.m., excluding Sundays. Initially, around 50 individuals will attend various sessions, including psychological support.

Plans are underway to establish a total of 21 such centres across the district to cater to the needs of a larger number of individuals requiring specialized care. These nine new centres will operate within existing government primary health centres, utilizing existing infrastructure such as buildings. The District Disabled Officer, M. Saradha, stated that these new centres will function within the current government primary health centres to maximize the use of available resources.

Additionally, a model One Stop Centre for beneficiaries will be constructed at a cost of ₹10 crore in Tiruvannamalai town in the coming months, offering comprehensive facilities, including physical activities and health sessions tailored for persons with disabilities.