Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) has taken a significant step to improve services for differently-abled citizens by appointing 43 new employees at the Divyang Bhavan Foundation.
These appointments, divided into two phases, aim to strengthen the foundation's capacity to offer a range of essential services, including therapy, assistive devices, skill development, rehabilitation, and empowerment for the differently-abled community.
Divyang Bhavan Foundation, established by PCMC under the Companies Act, has been operating from its newly constructed building in Morwadi.
According to Paresh Gandhi, the Chief Executive Officer of Divyang Bhavan, all 43 appointed employees have joined their posts, and the foundation is now set to provide faster and more effective services to the city's differently-abled population.
In the first phase, the Municipal Corporation selected 40 candidates across 31 categories, while the second phase saw the appointment of 3 additional candidates in 3 specialized categories.
These recruitments are expected to significantly enhance the foundation’s ability to serve the community, particularly with the upcoming door-to-door survey aimed at identifying the needs of differently-abled citizens across the city. The survey will ensure that more citizens can access therapy and other services provided by the foundation.
In addition to expanding its workforce, Divyang Bhavan is preparing to launch a dedicated "Divyang Cell" to streamline its service delivery. This will enable more efficient management of services such as therapy for 21 different types of disabilities, the distribution of assistive devices, and the provision of rehabilitation and skill development programs.
Since its inception, Divyang Bhavan has made a significant impact, offering therapy to over 150 individuals with disabilities. More than 300 differently-abled citizens have participated in the foundation's awareness programs, and 120 have received artificial limbs and assistive devices.
Omprakash Deshmukh, Managing Director of the foundation, encouraged all holders of UDID (Unique Disability ID) cards within the PCMC limits to visit Divyang Bhavan and take advantage of the services offered, such as therapy and assistive devices.
Municipal Commissioner Shekhar Singh emphasized the importance of providing empathetic and comprehensive services to every differently-abled individual. He called upon the newly appointed staff to ensure that each person receives equal care and support, aiming for an inclusive and accessible city for all.