Tamil Nadu - Cuddalore   

Assistance given to differently abled persons

— Photo: C. Venkatachalapathy

Helping hand: Finance Minister K. Anbalagan distributing assistance to a differently abled person at Kattumannarkoil in Cuddalore district.

CUDDALORE: Finance Minister K. Anbalagan gave away assistance worth about Rs. 60 lakh to differently abled persons at a function held at Kattumannarkoil recently.

The aid included Rs. 28.13 lakh to 292 persons for starting self-help ventures; callipers worth Rs. 1.72 lakh, tri-cycles, spectacles, hearing-aids and Braille books to 169 persons; Rs. 2.40 lakh as marriage assistance to 12 persons at the rate of Rs. 20,000 each (in case one of the partners is differently abled).

Mr. Anbalagan inaugurated a 12-bed wing, a generator room and an administrative building constructed at a cost of Rs. 79 lakh at the Government Hospital.

He said Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi was fully aware of the living conditions of the poor and had launched several welfare schemes every time he came to power. Notable among them were the Vision Restoration Scheme (Kannoli Thittam), Beggars’ Rehabilitation Scheme, scrapping of hand-pulled rickshaws and provision of at least one electric bulb to huts. Providing electricity had helped wards of slum-dwellers to study at nights and pursuer education.

The Chief Minister had extended a financial assistance of Rs. 6,000 for pregnant women in poor families (the payment to be spread out over six-months – three months before and three months after delivery).

The Kalaignar Health Insurance Scheme for Life-Saving Treatments was also a boon to people, Mr. Anbalagan said. Health Minister M.R.K. Panneerselvam said that thousands of people attended free health camps held at Kurinjipadi, Vadalur and Kattumannarkoil recently under the health insurance scheme.

He called upon the officials to implement the welfare schemes with full involvement so that the benefits reach the target groups. Conceding the request of D. Ravikumar, MLA, Mr. Pannerselvam promised to set up an old age home in the area.

Collector P. Seetharaman also spoke.

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