Wheelchair Delivered to Differently-Abled Woman in Mandi After Swift Administrative Support.
Shimla:
In a heartening example of coordinated community support and prompt administrative action, a differently-abled woman from a remote village in Mandi district received a wheelchair within just three days of a request being submitted to the district administration.
The beneficiary, Raju Devi, wife of Ramesh Thakur and a resident of Khaban village under Latran Panchayat in the Chuhar Valley of Mandi district, was presented with the wheelchair on Wednesday by social worker and journalist Subhash Thakur. The assistance was made possible through the timely intervention of the district administration and the Indian Red Cross Society.
According to available information, the initiative began a few days ago when Gopal Thakur, a school teacher visiting the village as part of the ongoing census exercise, observed the difficult circumstances faced by Raju Devi due to her physical disability. Moved by her condition, he suggested that a wheelchair be arranged to improve her mobility and quality of life.
Acting on the suggestion, social worker and journalist Subhash Thakur met Deputy Commissioner Apoorv Devgan and submitted a formal application requesting a wheelchair for Raju Devi. During the meeting, he also highlighted the need for improved road connectivity for remote villages, including Khaban, Lachhiyan, and other settlements in the Barot region.
Taking the matter seriously, Deputy Commissioner Apoorv Devgan immediately instructed O.P. Bhatia, Secretary of the District Red Cross Society, to initiate the necessary process. As a result of the prompt administrative response, the wheelchair was sanctioned within three days.
Subhash Thakur personally collected the wheelchair from the Red Cross office and delivered it to Raju Devi’s residence, where it was formally handed over to her family. The gesture brought much-needed relief to the beneficiary and was appreciated by the local community.
Several villagers and local representatives were present on the occasion, including teacher Gopal Thakur, Deputy Pradhan Raj Kumar, Kesar Thakur, Karam Singh Thakur, Jagdish Thakur, Khali Thakur, Ram Dev, Hari Singh, Dhyan Singh, Govind Kumar, Ramesh Kumar, Rampal, Buddhi Singh, Ram Dei, and many other residents.
Speaking on the occasion, Subhash Thakur expressed his gratitude to the district administration, Deputy Commissioner Apoorv Devgan, and Red Cross Society Secretary O.P. Bhatia for their swift and compassionate response. He said that helping people in need is a collective social responsibility and reaffirmed his commitment to continuing efforts aimed at supporting underprivileged and vulnerable sections of society.
The incident highlights how cooperation between concerned citizens, local administration, and voluntary organizations can bring timely assistance to people living in remote areas and significantly improve their daily lives.
