Motorised wheelchairs for dystrophy-affected in TN

Sources said the policy decision to this effect has been already made by the government which was reflected in the Budget and that it has called for tenders for battery-operated wheelchairs.

The tender document would be opened at 3.30pm. Sources said the state has also planned to constitute a fund for the differently abled in accordance with the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act 2016 and the allocation for it would be Rs 10 crore. “A state-wide survey of persons with disabilities will be undertaken to create a dynamic database for designing specific welfare programmes to enable them lead a secure life,” a senior official said.

While presenting the Budget for the current fiscal, Finance Minister O Panneerselvam had said, “Motorised mobility assistive devices have been sanctioned for the first time to 1,000 people affected by muscular dystrophy and paraplegia during the current year. In the ensuing financial year, these mobility assistive devices will be sanctioned to 2,000 more beneficiaries at a cost of Rs 13 crore.”

TMN Deepak, president of December 3 Movement, which works for the rights of the differently abled, welcomed the state’s initiative citing it as a first of its kind.

“No other state has extended such welfare measures to the muscular dystrophy -affected persons and tetraplegics. Undoubtedly, this would help beneficiaries. However, the apprehension I have is related to the society we live in wherein accessibility is always deemed as a luxury for the differently abled. We do not even have ramps in every building,” he said. He suggested that the state should factor in the views of the stakeholders and ensure the quality of the proposed devices.

V Arun Roy, Commissioner for Differently Abled, has called for sealed tenders for the supply of 1,000 battery-operated wheelchairs for MD-affected persons and as well as other tetraplegic persons. His communique stated that the applications for the tender documents will be entertained until 11am on June 12 and the willing companies would have to submit the tender before 3pm the same day.