State’s first Divyang rehabilitation centre established at Dehradun district hospital

PIONEEREDGE NEWS SERVICE | Dehradun

Uttarakhand’s first modern multipurpose Divyang Rehabilitation Centre has been established at Dehradun district hospital Gandhi Shatabdi. The initiative brings all services for persons with disabilities under one roof, ranging from certification to assistive devices and skill-based training, the Dehradun district magistrate Savin Bansal said.

He inspected the centre on Tuesday and directed officials to ensure proper arrangements for the beneficiaries. He instructed the hospital to expand the facility with a separate space for physiotherapy and to create a dedicated pathway for easier access. Parking and movement assistance will be managed by PRD personnel.

The DM also asked the Social Welfare officer to ensure the centre remains fully equipped to avoid inconvenience to visitors. The officials informed the DM that on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, Aadhaar services will also be available at the centre with expert staff. A registration desk and waiting room have been created for beneficiaries. The centre provides certification, physiotherapy, counselling, artificial limbs, hearing aids and other assistive devices. It also offers training for self-employment, vocational courses, and connects specially-abled individuals to schemes such as UDID cards, pensions and scholarships.

Bansal informed that a multidisciplinary team including physiotherapists, speech therapists, occupational therapists, and counsellors will work at the centre to provide rehabilitation services. The Social Welfare department will manage operations, with 14 sanctioned posts funded by the department. Earlier, DDRC services were being run from Herbertpur and a sub-centre at Sanatan Dharma Kanya Inter College, Raja Road, which caused inconvenience for beneficiaries.

Bansal said that the new integrated centre aims to provide certification, assistive devices, therapy, counselling and rehabilitation services at one location. The chief development officer Abhinav Shah, chief medical officer Dr Manoj Sharma and medical superintendent Dr Manu Jain were also present during inspection.