Date:20/08/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/08/20/stories/2008082053770100.htm

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Slew of concessions announced for persons with disabilities

Special Correspondent

Panel to ensure job quota for them
They also get bus fare concession

CHENNAI: Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi on Tuesday said a high-level committee headed by Social Welfare Minister Geetha Jeevan will monitor the recruitment of persons with disabilities to government departments to ensure that the three per cent reservation for them is adhered to.

He announced a slew of concessions for them, after a meeting with their representatives. The government would announce a separate policy for them.

After the DMK assumed office, about three lakh persons had been appointed in various government departments. As many as 9,000 of these vacancies should have been filled up by persons with disabilities. The association representatives submitted that only a few persons with disabilities had been employed and that there was a large number of vacancies.

All persons with disabilities working on consolidated pay basis for more than two years would be granted timescale pay.

The Chief Minister conceded another crucial demand: bus fare concession. The association had submitted that the Railways granted them travel concession and requested that the State government to provide the same. After discussing the matter with officials, Mr. Karunanidhi said that persons certified with disability could travel in State-owned buses by paying one-fourth of the fare. There would be no restriction on their travel.

Mr. Karunanidhi said that a request would be made to manufacturing giants setting shop in Tamil Nadu to recruit persons with disabilities on a priority basis. The request would be made when the State government enters into memoranda of understanding with the firms.

The State government would contribute the mandatory 5 per cent “own contribution” for persons with disabilities for availing grants under a new plan of the Union government. The new Central employment scheme of the Prime Minister mandated that the persons with disabilities invest 5 per cent of the total grant amount.

The government would exempt persons with disabilities studying in government and government-aided institutes of higher education from paying fees. The concessions available for the visually impaired would be made available to all persons with disabilities.

Thanking Mr. Karunanidhi, the representatives said his daughter Kanimozhi had been supporting their cause for the past four years. Pat came Mr. Karunanidhi’s reply: “So you had a sympathiser in my house itself.”