From the States

Early intervention centers to be initiated

Social Welfare Minister Poongothai Aladi Aruna distributed aid to physically challenged people at a function organized by the Life Help Center. Soon after, the Commissioner for the disabled V.K Jeyakodi said that 60 early intervention centres across the State would start functioning in three months to identify children with disabilities.

He said as per the 2001 census, Tamil Nadu had 1.6 million people with disabilities and over 70 per cent rural areas. He said the government was sensitive to their needs and has several schemes for their benefit.

It had proposed to set up early intervention centres for children below six years in all the districts based on the feedback it received for its project for hearing impaired children.

German funding agencies representatives, including Heribert Kamps, chairman, Indien Hilfswerk ; Rudi Frick President, AWO International: Edge Johnen, executive director to Lebenshilfe fuer Behinderte e.V Heinsberg, highlighted the achievements of the Centre.

Senior officials of the German Consulate in Chennai were present.

Centre director Blaze Kannan said the facility was a result of active cooperation between the State Government and the German Consulate, Chennai. In the next few weeks, the Centre would open a rural rehabilitation centre in Cuddalore and a centre in Kashmir for children who lost their families in the earthquake.

Source: Centre for handicapped celebrates 30th anniversary. The Hindu, Daily, Chennai, 9 September 2007.

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CCPD directs MP government to improve facilities

The chief commissioner of the union ministry of disabled persons, social justice and empowerment Dr. Manoj Kumar while reviewing the implementation of Disabled Persons Campaign Act in the state directed the officers of the departments to ensure uniformity in the disability certificates in a meeting held in the state mantralaya today. He said that 25 percent concession in fare should be extended to the disabled persons in the private buses on the line of concession given in the buses of MP state transport corporation. Dr. Kumar also lauded the implementation and activities of the schemes being undertaken in the state for the welfare of the disabled persons. He mentioned that other states of the country should emulate Madhya Pradesh in implementation of such welfare schemes. The commissioner disabled persons of Madhya Pradesh government Shri Deepankar Bannerjee was also present in the meeting.

Directives under the provisions of the Act such as adherence to rules for convenient movement of disabled persons in government and public buildings, cent percent attainment of goals as regard to reservation provisions under the beneficiaries oriented schemes, establishment of hostels for disabled in each district under the sarva shiksha abhiyan, training to teachers of school education department in special education in B.Ed course, software of brail books, police assistance centers for deaf and dumb, handling of cases with sensitivity of the disabled persons and other points were issued by the chief commissioner disabled persons Dr. Kumar.

The principal secretary social justice Shri R.N. Berwa directed the officer of the departments to initiate action with sensitivity and positive approach keeping in view the aspects of the Act for the all round development of the disabled persons. Further, information as regard to holding of Pratibha Utsav through rangmanch of Bharat Bhavan to propagate disabled welfare schemes being implemented in the state was given by the commissioner panchayat and social justice Dr. M. Mohanrao and by the commissioner public relations Shri Manoj Shrivastava.

Source: Concession to disabled people in private buses, The Central Chronicle, Bhopal, 12 September 2007.

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Should there be separate colleges for disabled people?

In a move to help disabled students pursue higher education, the state finance minister, Mr Asim Dasgupta, mooted a proposal to set up two colleges which would provide special privileges for disabled people.

He was speaking at the prize distribution ceremony, organised by state mass education and library department in association with Paschim Banga Rajya Pratibandhi Sammilani, for disabled students who excelled in Madhyamik and Higher Secondary examinations this year. While speaking on the benefits that the state should provide to a disabled person, the minister said: “Disabled people should get the opportunity to contribute to the country’s production. For this purpose, they should be given special benefits to pursue higher studies. Thus, I would request the mass education and library department to consider my proposal of setting up two colleges, one diploma and the other degree, which will have special arrangements for these students.”

He assured that the proposal will get full support from the finance department. He also suggested that schools, set up especially for disabled students, must also stress on providing technical education. This would enable these students to learn singing, computer, nursing, stitching apart from routine studies. He added that he has noticed a steady growth in the number of children staying in the government–aided social welfare homes. “Two years back, around 4047 physically challenged children lived in these homes but now the number stands at 5100,” he said. He also pointed out that with the increase in the number of home inmates, the number of such homes has increased to 54 while there are about 130 schools for these students.

Source: Minister plans colleges for disabled people, The Statesman, Kolkata, 12 September 2007.

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Police behavior needs urgent review

In a glaring case of physical abuse be a man in khaki, an Assistance Sub Inspector was caught hitting a mentally challenged, homeless 10–year–old boy. He also rubbed his boots on the child’s legs in the presence of members of the Child Welfare Committee in Lajpat Nagar–II on Wednesday. In a written order, a shocked CWC has directed DCP (south) to file a case against the ASI under provisions of the Juvenile Justice Act, wherein the offence is punishable.

In its order, CWC, Lajpat Nagar–II, has started, “ASI Rejender Singh, posted in Okhla Industrial Area–II on Wednesday at about 12.30 pm, produced a mentally challenged child 10 years of age, name unknown, before the Child Welfare Committee in Lajpat Nagar. In order to wake up the child, who was sleeping, the said ASI hit the child and rubbed the child’s legs with his boots in full view of the CWC members.”

“This is atrocious and a clear violation of the dignity of the child. It is a punishable offence under section 23 of the Juvenile Justice Act 2000,” the CWC ruled.

The CWC on Thursday, in a written direction to the Delhi Police, states. “DCP (south) is directed to get a case registered immediately against ASI Rajender Singh, under intimation to CWC Lajpat Nagar.”

According to source, the abandoned 10–year–old was found by police personnel on patrol in Okhla Phase–II area on Tuesday night, when the city was busy celebrating Janamashtmi. The child was taken to the Lajpat Nagar shelter for homeless children. On Wednesday morning, as per the Juvenile Justice Act, all homeless children sourced from the streets or elsewhere have to be produced before the CWC which, after examining the case, decides which children’s home the child has to go to.

When the 10–year–old was produced before the CWC, the member directed that the boy, who was found to be mentally challenged and suffering from epilepsy, be sent to the Asha Kiran Avantika Home for the mentally retarded in Rohini.

CWC member, MM Vidyarathi, further revealed, “While we pronounced the order, the boy had gone off to sleep on the floor. That was when I was shocked to see that the ASI in–charge kicked the boy with his shoe and rubbed his boots on the child’s legs. At this, the CWC issued an order then and there asserting that action be taken against the ASI.”

Source: Cop caught kicking homeless disabled boy. The Times of India, Daily, New Delhi, 8 September 2007.

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