The differently abled account for 2.3 per cent of Kannur population

The provisional figures in the disability census 2015 for Kannur district have shown that disabled people account for 2.3 per cent of its population.

The figures have been disclosed on the occasion of the culmination of the census field work. The provisional census figures show that 57,831 people in the district have one or the other of the 22 types of disabilities identified for the State-wide disability status held under the aegis of the Social Justice Department. Thalassery municipality has 1,723 disabled persons, highest among the municipalities in the district.

When contacted, district coordinator of the census Thomas Abraham said that the provisional census figures would be subjected to further scrutiny before releasing the final report in November.

The census report included socio-economic and other information concerning persons with disabilities, he added. The types of disabilities considered for the census included movement disorder, muscular dystrophy, chronic neurological disorder, multiple sclerosis, kyphosis, disorder resulting in short stature, blindness, learning disabilities, speech disorder, mental retardation, mental sickness, autism, deafness, leprosy-caused deformities, haemophilia, thalassemia, sickle cell anaemia, cerebral palsy, epilepsy and multiple disabilities. Social Justice Department officials said that the census had been conducted in two phases. In the first phase, Anganwadi workers collected data from household visits. On the basis of their information, teams of health workers and personnel from local bodies visited the households to corroborate the preliminary information.

The second phase saw a 20 per cent rejection from the first phase collection, they said. The provisional disability census report comes at a time when the district administration has already launched initiatives to provide barrier-free environment in government offices in the district. The barrier-free facilities being planned in 2,810 government offices in the district, include vertical and horizontal access, especially ramps with handrails, lifts and signage.

Speaking at the census field work culmination function held on September 29, District Collector P. Bala Kiran, said that the government has sanctioned the project for setting up barrier-free environment in government offices in the district. He also called on private builders to provide such facilities in their buildings.