SRINAGAR: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Wednesday reaffirmed the Jammu and Kashmir administration’s commitment to strengthening infrastructure and support for persons with disabilities (PwDs), particularly para athletes, during a visit to the Voluntary Medicare Society (VMS) in Srinagar.
The Lieutenant Governor interacted with para athletes, children with special needs and officials of the Society, and discussed measures to promote holistic empowerment, rehabilitation and sports development for Divyangjan across Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.
During the interaction, VMS founder and president Dr Mir Mohammad Maqbool, Vice President Prof Masooda Yasin and other office-bearers sought government support for creating a structured ecosystem for adaptive sports. They proposed the establishment of a J&K Para Sports Association to identify and nurture talent from the district level to international competitions, along with an indoor para sports hall to provide year-round accessible training and rehabilitation facilities.
The discussions also focused on the need for robotic physiotherapy equipment, expanded healthcare and skill development facilities, specialised sports wheelchairs, modern training equipment, coaching camps, exposure programmes and travel assistance for para athletes.
Addressing the gathering, Sinha said the Government of India, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, remains committed to ensuring equal opportunities and inclusive development for persons with disabilities.
He said para athletes from Jammu and Kashmir have earned recognition at national and international levels in recent years, adding that the administration would continue to work towards creating world-class infrastructure and providing the necessary support to help specially-abled youth realise their potential.
The Lieutenant Governor also praised the Voluntary Medicare Society for its decades-long contribution towards the welfare and rehabilitation of persons with disabilities. He toured the Society’s rehabilitation units, wards and other facilities and interacted with children receiving care at the institution.
Commending the efforts of the organisation, Sinha said meaningful social change is driven by committed individuals and acknowledged the role played by Dr Mir Mohammad Maqbool and the Society’s volunteers in transforming lives through dedicated service.
Senior officials accompanying the Lieutenant Governor included SSP Srinagar Dr GV Sundeep Chakravarthy, Deputy Commissioner Srinagar Akshay Labroo and other officers. Dr Farooq Ahmad Kaloo, Er Majid Ahmad Bala, staff, coaches, trainers and office-bearers of the Voluntary Medicare Society were also present during the visit.
