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MANGALORE: Confusion and chaos prevailed at the comprehensive assessment camp for persons with disabilities of various categories like locomotor and speech and hearing impaired and visually impaired at District Government Wenlock Hospital here on Friday.

 The camp was organised by Pt Deendayal Upadhyaya Institute for the Physically Handicapped, Southern Regional Centre, Red Cross and Dakshina Kannada District Administration.

 Though the district administration had expected around 200 participants, there were more than 700 which made the arrangements go haywire. Adding to the confusion was the late arrival of assessment officers by more than two hours. According to the survey conducted by the child welfare department in June 2013, there are 15,148 persons with disability. Of these, the highest number was in Belthangady taluk at 3,024. Of the total, those with physical disability constitute a majority with 7,249 followed by those with mental retardation at 3,335.

 Deputy commissioner AB Ibrahim who came to know of the situation rushed to the spot and gave suitable directions which minimised the chaos. Though it was said by the district administration that those without any documents like Aadhaar, ID or ration card could also come to the camp, disabled who came without those had to face a barrage of questions.

Dr Pandyan who is in charge of the camp organised by the Institute in Karnataka, said that they were expecting nearly 1,000 people from Dakshina Kannada for the camp. "We have made all arrangements to ensure that the last person was assessed before the closing the camp. Of the 774 disabled people whom we have assessed on Friday, we have identified nearly 350 of them as eligible for getting aids and equipments. Measurements have been takes for preparing custom made artificial limbs for the needy. We have recorded all data which will be sorted out and appliances will be distributed to the beneficiaries in the distribution camp, which will be held within next three months in Mangalore," he said.

 It is estimated that the amount for providing aids and appliances in Dakshina Kannada district will stand at Rs 25 lakh. A proposal on the same will be sent to the central government to seek funding for the purpose. The camp has been organised under the Assistance to the Disabled Persons scheme in various districts in the country. The Southern Centre has organised camps in Bangalore, rural, Bangalore, Hassan, Tumkur, Udupi and a few more districts, he added.