Collector Vandana Garg inaugurated nine social care centres for persons with disabilities above six years of age in key towns, including Cheyyar, Chengam, Kilpennathur, Vandavasi, Arani and Chetpet in Tiruvannamalai on Thursday.

Officials of Welfare of Differently Abled Persons Department, which would be maintaining the facility, said that the new centres would provide special education, early intervention services, including physiotherapy and other therapies, rehabilitation and vocational training for persons with disabilities.

At present, around 53,000 persons with disabilities have been identified in the district. “Each centre, on an average, will have at least five staff, including instructors to conduct sessions for visitors. The centre will function between 10 a.m. and 5.45 p.m. on all days except Sundays,” M. Saradha, District Disabled Officer (Tiruvannamalai), told .

Initially, the new facility would have around 50 persons to attend different sessions, including psychology, District officials said. As per plan, a total of 21 such centres would be set up in the district to cover a large section of persons with disabilities, who require specialised care.

Officials said that these nine new centres would function within the existing government primary health centres (PHCs) to utilise existing infrastructure like buildings to run the centres. Earlier, such specialised care for persons with disabilities were provided at government hospitals.

A model One Stop Centre for the beneficiaries will be built at a cost of ₹10 crore in Tiruvannamalai town in the coming months. The new centre will have all required facilities, including physical activities and health sessions for persons with disabilities.