Village rehabilitation workers posts vacant

Village rehabilitation workers posts vacant

Mangalore Today News Network

Udupi, Mar 15, 2015: It is stated, Department for Empowerment of Disabled and Senior Citizens, has more than 950 honorary posts vacant.  Volunteers act as a bridge between the department and physically challenged persons. To bring the welfare programmes to the needy at the gram panchayat level VRWs were created at the taluk level multipurpose rehabilitation workers were created.

They were working for the success of the government schemes for persons with disabilities. The VRWs are given honorarium  of Rs 1,500 per month while MRWs are given Rs 4,000 per month. As the honorarium is meager, there is no interest in the work, however the fact that the honorary work has a different level is lost. Money is the only criterion now.

Those who have knowledge of problems have been appointed for the posts. The workers have been creating awareness on the government schemes among the disabled and also the eligibility for availing the facilities. Delay in availing the facilities will be brought to the notice of the officials.

Karnataka state has 5,632 gram panchayats. However, there are only 4,674 VRWs. Out of 176 taluk, MRWs are there in only 166 taluks.

Vacant posts ;   The posts lay  vacant in 10 taluks. An official said that those who suffer from 50 to 75 per cent of disabilities can not visit offices to avail the facilities. Hence, the posts have been created to help the disabled. As the honorarium paid is meager for VRWs, none are coming forward.  They do not see that this is not a full time work. A few GP’s have three to four villages.VRWs in case of necessity should visit the villages. Hence, it is essential to increase their honorarium and/or a work time plan be made to use their service in accordance with need.