Madras HC directs TN government to consider plea for increased subsidy for disabled

The Madras High Court today directed the Tamil Nadu government to consider a plea seeking 25 per cent increase in the subsidy for the disabled women under the new 'Amma' two-wheeler scheme to avail retro fitted scooters.

When the petition by Tamil Nadu Associations for the Rights of All Types of Differently-Abled and Care Givers (TARATDAC) came up, Justice K Ravichandrababu directed the state government to consider the representation within eight weeks.

TARATDAC Secretary S Namburajan submitted that the state government had recently announced the Amma' two-wheeler scheme, which would allow working women to purchase mopeds/scooters by availing 50 per cent subsidy.

The scheme provides four per cent reservation to differently-abled persons and as such 4,000 of them will benefit from it.

The scheme provides 50 per cent maximum subsidy of the cost of the vehicle or Rs 25,000 which is lesser.

Referring to section 24 of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, the petitioner said the government scheme does not provide any increased subsidy to the persons with disabilities.

According to section 24 of the Act, the quantum of assistance in similar schemes to the differently abled persons shall be at least 25% higher than applicable to others.

A representation has been sent to authorities concerned in this connection on January 22 and February 5, the petitioner said.

The associations also sought extension of time for submitting applications but to no avail, he added.