M.V. Rajasekharan

Bangalore: The Union and State governments should ensure that people with disabilities from rural areas are rehabilitated and properly employed, Union Minister of State for Planning M.V. Rajasekharan said here on Sunday.

Inaugurating the audio-visual laboratory and college hostel facilities at the S.R. Chandrasekhar Institute of Speech and Hearing here on Sunday, he said the Union Government was committed to providing education to people with disabilities in rural areas. A provision for home-based learning for children with disabilities should be made, he said.

The Minister said at least five per cent of the population in India suffered from disabilities. He said rehabilitation facilities for the people with disabilities should be improved. They should not be denied of socio-economic benefits.

Mr. Rajasekharan urged the Government and non-governmental organisations to work together for the uplift of people with disabilities. He appreciated the efforts of S.R. Chandrasekhar, patron-in-chief of the institute, and K.R. Ramachandran, honorary secretary, in serving the disabled.

Mr. Rajasekharan felicitated those who had contributed towards the construction of the hostel.

Presenting the annual report of the institute, M.N. Nagraj, director, said more than 5,313 people had received aid from the institute, of which nearly 44 per cent were children.

Mr. Nagaraj He said that the institute was planning to set up a "mobile audiology unit," to help people with disabilities in rural areas.

In his welcome address, Mr. Ramachandran said that the institute required more grants from the State Government to build more hostels for the disabled children from rural areas.

Interpreters were present for the benefit of those with hearing impairment.

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