Punjab: 250 disabled, elderly get aid at charitable camp
Punjab: A total of 250 persons with disabilities and senior citizens above 60 years of age were registered at a welfare camp organised by the Chaudhary Raja Ram Jakhar Memorial Public Charitable Trust at Arorvansh Dharamshala. The camp aimed to provide much-needed assistance to vulnerable groups of the community.
The Trust, founded by the late veteran Parliamentarian Bal Ram Jakhar in honour of his father, Chaudhary Raj Ram Jakhar, has long been dedicated to social welfare. Chaudhary Raj Ram Jakhar was known for his pioneering work in promoting social equality, being the first to allow families from the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes to draw water from a common well in Panjkosi village. Despite resistance from upper-caste families, he later hosted a mass lunch for these families during the freedom struggle. The Trust has since continued its mission of serving the community through various welfare initiatives.
MLA Sandeep Jakhar and Mayor Vimal Thatai attended the camp, where Jakhar interacted with attendees to better understand their needs. The Trust provided refreshments and meals to all those present.
The camp was organised in collaboration with ALIMCO (Artificial Limbs Manufacturing Corporation of India), a public sector company that manufactures and distributes rehabilitation aids for people with disabilities. The MLA announced those registered would benefit from the Government of India’s Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana (RVY), which provides free rehabilitation aids to senior citizens and people with disabilities.
The MLA said beneficiaries would soon receive a range of items, including knee belts, waist belts, wheelchairs, hearing aids, sticks, commode chairs and cervical belts for those aged 60 and above. Additionally, motorised tricycles, wheelchairs and other aids would be provided to individuals with disabilities.
Jakhar also praised the efforts of social activists Vipan Sharma and Ashish Verma for their dedicated service to the elderly and disabled.
Many of the camp’s registrants expressed their gratitude, saying the initiative had given them renewed hope for a better quality of life.
