Tamil Nadu

Census held on differently abled

PERAMBALUR: A census on differently abled persons to ensure prompt distribution of assistances available under schemes being implemented by the Central and State governments has been completed in Perambalur district.

The census, which started last week, concluded on Sunday and was done in co-ordination with five non-governmental organisations. The exercise is aimed at ensuring access to different data including the number of differently abled persons either block-wise or village-wise and details such as number of persons with orthopaedic complaints or mental disability or visual or hearing impairment.

According to District Disabled Rehabilitation Officer N. Selvaraju, members of the families of the differently abled persons can obtain the forms at Anganwadi centres. The forms can be filled up by the Anganwadi worker/Makkal Nala Paniyalargal/Village Health Nurse/Inclusive Education for the Disabled (IED) teachers of the Sarva Siksha Abhiyan scheme.

He said although the Department of Statistics conducted a similar survey in 2005, it lacked certain details. On the other hand, the current survey would be fool-proof in the sense that it contained all necessary details such as the national identity card and the type of assistance the differently-abled persons got from the State or the Centre.

“For instance, a beneficiary is eligible for either physically handicapped pension of Rs.400 or maintenance grant of Rs. 500, both a monthly assistance. There is a separate column for ascertaining the assistance,” he said.

The survey would eliminate such additional assistances. It would also help in chalking out welfare programmes. Setting up of early detection centres for spastic ailment, for example, could be taken up based on the density of the persons with such complaints in a particular block or taluk. The data would be compiled village-wise, community-wise and block-wise by the non-governmental organisation for a particular village.

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