Ensure people with disabilities are not left out during SIR: Minister Geetha Jeevan

Calling for urgent steps to ensure that persons with disabilities (PwDs) are not excluded from the electoral process, Minister for Social Welfare and Women Empowerment P. Geetha Jeevan said on Friday that over 97 lakh names have been deleted from the draft electoral rolls in the State, underscoring the need for a coordinated enrolment.

Addressing the fifth State conference of the Tamil Nadu Association for the Rights of All Types of Differently Abled and Caregivers (TARATDAC), which began here on Friday, the Minister said the government had stepped up efforts to identify all PwDs and ensure that they were registered and extended the benefits of welfare schemes.

Referring to the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGA), which she said was a key source of livelihood for PwDs in rural areas, Ms. Jeevan said the Centre had altered its framework in a manner that shifted the financial burden to the States, but asserted that Chief Minister M.K. Stalin would oppose any move that threatened livelihoods.

P. Jansi Rani, State general secretary of the organisation, accused the Narendra Modi government of adopting policies detrimental to PwDs. She criticised the GST on assistive devices, including artificial limbs and mobility and vision aids, saying essential support equipment was being treated as consumer goods.

Citing international studies, she said most PwDs were poor and alleged that employment opportunities had not been adequately created. She sought the restoration of G.O. 151, which earlier provided limited employment avenues for PwDs.

Ms. Jansi Rani described the ₹300 monthly assistance under the Indira Gandhi National Disability Pension Scheme as inadequate and urged the State government to enhance financial support, noting that Puducherry, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana provided higher assistance.

The conference was presided over by T. Wilson, State president of TARATDAC. Several dignitaries, including Dindigul MP R. Sachidanandam, participated.

Earlier, the association took out a rally from Thanthai Periyar Government Arts and Science College to the military ground in Mannarpuram.