Fifty-one people with disabilities in Visakhapatnam district were given free three-wheeler motor vehicles at the Collectorate premises on Monday as part of a State government initiative to promote independent living and self-reliance.

Legislators Vishnukumar Raju and Vamsi Krishna Srinivas, District Revenue Officer M. Visweswara Naidu and Assistant Director of the Department for Differently Abled Persons Kavitha flagged off the vehicles.

Mr. Raju said each vehicle was worth about ₹1.02 lakh. Sixty vehicles had been sanctioned for the six Assembly constituencies in the district in 2025-26, while 79 applications were received and 51 eligible beneficiaries selected, Ms. Kavitha said.

Mr. Srinivas said efforts would be made to extend the benefit to other eligible persons. State Corporation for Differently Abled Persons chairman Gadupooti Narayanaswamy said that 1,750 motorised scooters were being distributed across the State, with 10 allocated to each Assembly constituency.