The National Institute for Empowerment of Persons with Intellectual Disabilities (NIEPID) under the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD) and The Hans Foundation today announced the launch of the Mobile Therapy Bus initiative. This transformational programme aims to address the unique needs of children with disabilities in marginalised communities through the deployment of five Mobile Therapy Buses in Noida, Ghaziabad, Kolkata and Mumbai.
The event was graced by Shri Rajesh Agarwal, Secretary (DEPwD) as the Chief Guest. Other notable attendees included Shri Sudeep Sinha, Director, Programmes and Strategic Initiatives at The Hans Foundation and Dr B V Ram Kumar, Director, NIEPID.
Each mobile therapy bus, designed to provide intensive and life-changing services, is expected to reach around 14,000 differently-abled people. The initiative requires an initial investment of ₹2 crore per bus for capital expenditure and infrastructure, as well as an annual operating budget of ₹1.2 crore to ensure ongoing maintenance, staffing and operational efficiency.
In its first year, the Mobile Therapy Bus initiative has shown remarkable progress. To date, a total of 5,222 children with disabilities have been registered and screened, and provided with comprehensive healthcare and counselling services.