The Tamil Nadu Association for the Rights of All Types of Differently-Abled and Caregivers (TARATDAC) along with members from the South Chennai District unit of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) have appealed to the State government to simplify procedures while identifying people with disabilities who are eligible for financial assistance and other aid under various government welfare schemes.
TARATDAC representatives and CPI (M) members took part in a demonstration outside the office of the tahsildar, Alandur, and also submitted a representation to the officials of the revenue department, highlighting their grievances on Monday.
According to Shanthi Nandagopal of CPI (M), several thousand people with disabilities in Kancheepuram district alone suffered extensively as they were unable to meet certain standards of disability as maintained by the State government. They had to travel long distances from one government office and hospital to another to get their percentage of disability certificates from doctors and other documents from government departments.
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Nearly all of the people with disabilities in the district belonged to low-income groups and several times, their applications were rejected, mostly because they did not have adequate documents to back their claims, Ms. Nandagopal said.
She added that people with disabilities already faced numerous problems as the city was not disabled-friendly, and that the government, especially the revenue department should simplify procedures for financial aid.
Rasathi, who suffers from an orthopaedic impairment, was among those in the demonstration and was hopeful that her application for the monthly Rs. 1,000 as financial assistance would be processed soon.
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