Differently-abled right groups to go on strike from May 22

S Namburajan, state general secretary, Tamil Nadu Association for the Rights of All Types of Differently Abled & Caregivers (TARATDAC), said that various associations, including Tamil Nadu State Federation of the Deaf, December-3 Movement and National Federation of the Blind (NFB), under Joint Action Committee of the Associations for the Disabled, will embark on a continuous siege outside the Commissionerate for the Welfare of Differently Abled, until their demands are met. 

“We want the Government Order No 27, which resulted after a siege struggle last year, to be amended to provide financial assistance to persons with 40% disability. Currently, only persons with 60% disability and above are considered. 

Persons with disability working in unorganised sectors such as tea shops/petty stores should be considered as they are denied their dues. In addition, we want persons with visual or hearing impairment of 75% or above should also be brought under this scheme,” said the activist. 

Namburajan also pointed out that the government should make necessary financial allocations for the disability pension, without fixing a ceiling. The government should also conduct camps to enrol persons with disability for the purpose of issuance of Unique Disability ID (UDID), a Central Government project,” he concluded.