PNN/ Faridabad: NHPC, India’s premier hydropower company provided 395 Aids and Assistive devices to 202 people with disabilities (PwDs) from Baramulla District, J&K. The aids and assistive devices included 6 joy stick wheel chairs, 8 tricycles, 67 wheel-chairs, 13 CP wheel chairs, 122 hearing aids, 13 MSIED kits, 3 smart canes, 46 crutches, 54 walking sticks, 10 rollator, 1 cervical collar, 9 artificial limbs and 42 callipars at a total cost of Rs 22.45 lakhs. The various Aids and Assistive devices were distributed by Hon’ble Member of Parliament Muzaffar Hussain Baig at a ceremony held in Dak Bungalow, Baramulla on 6th February.

Dr. Nasir Ahmad Naqash, DC, Baramulla and Manoj Kumar, Chief General Manager, Uri-I Power Station, NHPC Limited, B.P. Rao, General Manager (CSR&SD), Corporate Office NHPC, M. Kannan, General Manager (E&C), Uri-II Power Station and Manish Sahai, General Manager (Civil), Uri-II Power Station were also present on the occasion alongwith other senior officers from NHPC and State Administration. The programme was organized under the CSR&SD scheme of NHPC which is currently being implemented under the active initiative of N.K. Jain, Director (Personnel) NHPC.

NHPC will not only provide Aids and Assistive Devices to the PwDs, but has further envisaged executing an integrated CSR project wherein Skill development training will be given to the eligible beneficiaries including other PwDs (Persons with disabilities) as per their needs, aptitude and requirements through NHFDC (National Handicapped Finance Development Corporation). Further NHFDC would also identify entrepreneurs amongst the PwDs and finance their entrepreneurial ventures with soft loans.

The beneficiaries had been identified by NHPC after conducting assessment camps in association with ALIMCO (Artificial Limbs Manufacturing Corporation of India). NHPC is also implementing a nationwide Skill Development Training programme for 1000 nos of PwDs in association with NHFDC.

Hon’ble Member of Parliament Muzaffar Hussain Baig lauded NHPC for taking such humane initiatives for the benefit of the differently abled. He further praised NHPC for their contribution in the development of hydropower and working in tough and difficult conditions in the remotest corners of the country. Earlier Manoj Kumar, Chief General Manager, Uri Power Station welcomed Hon’ble MP Muzaffar Hussain Baig and Dr. Nasir Ahmad Naqash, DC, Baramulla and other dignitaries including Zaved Hassan Baig, former MLA, Baramulla, Imtiaz Hussain Mir, SSP, Baramulla, Farooq Ahmad Baba, ADC, Baramulla and Bashir ul Haque Chaudhary, SDM, Uri.
Kumar apprised the gathering about NHPC’s current achievements in the field of hydropower development and also highlighted its various initiatives being taken in the field of CSR-SD.

Shafi Shiddique