Noida: The National Institute for the Empowerment of Persons with Intellectual Disabilities (NIEPID), under the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD), in collaboration with The Hans Foundation, launched the Mobile Therapy Bus initiative today. This innovative program is designed to meet the unique needs of children with disabilities in marginalized communities by deploying five Mobile Therapy Buses across Noida, Ghaziabad, Kolkata, and Mumbai. The event was inaugurated by Secretary (DEPwD), Shri Rajesh Aggarwal, who served as the Chief Guest. Other prominent attendees included Sudeep Sinha, Director of Program and Strategic Initiatives at The Hans Foundation, and Dr. B V Ram Kumar, Director of NIEPID.
The Mobile Therapy Buses, equipped to deliver intensive and transformative services, are expected to benefit nearly 14,000 people with disabilities. The initiative demands an initial investment of ₹2 crore per bus for capital expenditure and infrastructure, along with an annual operating budget of ₹1.2 crore to ensure continuous maintenance, staffing, and operational efficiency.
In its inaugural year, the Mobile Therapy Bus initiative has already shown significant impact. So far, 5,222 children with disabilities have been registered and screened, receiving comprehensive healthcare and counseling services.
During his address, Rajesh Aggarwal commended the initiative, highlighting the professional excellence demonstrated by the teams at NIEPID and The Hans Foundation. He stressed the importance of government outreach to underserved communities and advocated for collaborations between the private and government sectors to improve early detection and intervention, particularly in rural areas.
The Chief Guest also recommended that Teaching Learning Materials and other aids provided by the Pradhan Mantri Divyasha Kendra (PMDK) be stored in the buses for easy distribution within the communities. Acknowledging the shortage of professionals in the field, he urged NIEPID students to focus on their studies and use their experiences to become successful professionals. Aggarwal also suggested short-term courses for parents and caregivers of children with disabilities (CWD) and advocated for a 100% fee concession for persons with disabilities (PWD) as well as for siblings and children of PWD parents.