Nothing in budget to ensure our rights, say differently abled

S Namburajan, the state general secretary of Tamil Nadu Association for the Rights of All Types of Differently Abled and Caregivers (TARATDAC) pointed out that the 2017-2018 budget had failed to consider the New Rights Act for the Disabled.  No allocations were made to implement the provisions of the new law, he said. 

Under the New Rights Act, all government buildings must be made differently abled friendly by the next five years. “The current budget has made no allocations to fulfil that condition,” he added. 

The multipurpose identity cards to be provided under the new Act too had not been considered in the budget, he said and added, “The state had assured the Union government that disability certificates have been given to all of them in the community. However, that is not true; many are still struggling to get past the hurdles to receive their certificates.” 

While many of the associations sought an increase in the monthly stipend to Rs 3,000, the government has proposed only a rise from Rs 1,000 to Rs 1,500 to those with leprosy induced disabilities. 

“We don’t want charity based schemes. Why aren’t there any measure or allocation made to ensure our rights. There has been no focus on education and empowerment of the community,” said TMN Deepak of the December 3 Movement.  

A differently abled person and an activist, Deepak, also said “The special scooters don’t serve any purpose, when we don’t have the means to fill petrol. There is no emphasis on self-employment of the community members. We are still either dependent on our families or the government.” 

He added that their rehabilitation and employment needs were unmet in the budget. 

Athikadavu-Avinashi scheme: Funds hailed

People of rural Coimbatore and Tirupur districts celebrated the announcement of Rs 250 crore in the state budget for the long-pending Athikadavu-Avinashi Groundwater Recharge Scheme. Villagers on the proposed project route distributed sweets and lighted crackers to express their joy on the allotment made by Finance Minister D Jayakumar.

“The announcement has given a ray of hope for people in those regions that the project will be implemented. Groundwater table in the region have already gone below 1,600 feet and this project alone can save the region from becoming a desert. The funds should be utilised in this financial year itself,” said Athikadavu-Avinashi Project Struggle Committee Federation organiser K Subramaniam to DTNext. Seeking more funds, if necessary, for the early completion of the groundwater recharge scheme, Subramaniam said what has been sanctioned was only a portion of the multi-crore project.