The Hindu : Comprehensive health survey of children

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Jan 10, 2004

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Comprehensive health survey of children

CHENNAI, JAN. 9. The Tamil Nadu Government will be conducting a comprehensive health survey of children up to 15 years to assess the extent of birth defects, Mohan Verghese Chunkath, Special Commissioner for the Disabled, said here today.

This information, collected at primary health centres, would help doctors detect and rehabilitate the differently abled at an earlier stage, he said at a seminar on `employability of disabled persons in corporate sectors,' organised by the Rehabilitation Council of India (RCI) and the Ajay Memorial Foundation.

Apart from this, about 35,000 anganwadi workers were being trained to detect impairment in children at a young age and rehabilitate them. This was in line with the State Government's policy of inclusive education. "Unless the child is severely mentally or physically challenged it should be admitted to a regular school," Mr. Chunkath said.

There was a three per cent reservation in government jobs for people who were physically and mentally challenged but as the Government had limited recruitment, not many opportunities were available to them. As a result, the corporate sector should come forward and recruit the differently abled, he said.

J.P. Singh, member-secretary, RCI, said the employment scenario for the differently abled was not encouraging. According to a survey by a Delhi-based non governmental organisation, employment of the differently abled in 100 top Indian companies is only 0.4 per cent.

A new Act to regulate the skills and equipment required by vocational institutions for the differently abled was being framed by the Tamil Nadu Government, said Shanmuga Sundaram, joint director, Directorate for the Rehabilitation of the Disabled.

A committee headed by A. Pitchai, former director of rehabilitation for the disabled, will draft the new Act, which, when implemented, will repeal the Tamil Nadu Recognition of Private Schools Regulation Act, 1974. He said the State Government had sought Rs. 10 crores from the Central Planning Commission for the procurement of rubella vaccine to be administered to all adolescent girls.

C.K. Gariyali, Social Welfare Secretary, said the Tamil Nadu Government was developing a comprehensive plan for the differently-abled. It would be based on community participation.

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