Almost 70 dwarves will soon live with dignity and comfort in a village in north-eastern India that is being set up with special homes adapted to their stature, a news report said Tuesday.

A theatre personality in Assam state planned the village in the central Udalguri district, the IANS news agency reported.

"I have got land for the project 'Amar Gaon' meaning Our Villagein Assamese," Pabitra Rabha said.

"The houses in the village will be designed in a way so that the’ little people' can live comfortably in the houses," Rabha said.

Rabha who also runs Dapon, the only all-dwarves theatre group in India, said the project will be the first of its kind for dwarves inthe country, where physically challenged people face discrimination.

Amar Gaon will include houses, a centre for professional training and development, and a place for rehearsals, Rabha said.

A total of 70 dwarves have been identified across Assam and 30will be accommodated in the village during the first stage, he said.

Rabha is an advocate for the rights and dignity of dwarves.

"Earlier, while most of these people remained indoors due to their physical stature, a few of them had worked in circuses as clowns. There was no dignity in their job as clowns and their self-esteem washurt," he said.

In recent years, Dapon has staged acclaimed plays which highlight the stigma faced by dwarves.