The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Apt decision to fight for their cause

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Aug 30, 2006

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Apt decision to fight for their cause

CONFIDENT CLAN: Physically disabled persons attending a training programme in Tiruchi. — Photo: R.M. Rajarathinam

The forthcoming local body poll has already created much expectation among various sections of the society. Not only the political parties, even service and voluntary organisations have also planned to field their candidates. Physically disabled persons are no exception in this regard.

A two-day training programme on `Persons with disabilities in local governance' sponsored by the Action on Disability and Development India (ADD India) organised in Tiruchi recently revealed the resolve of the differently-abled to contest the local body polls.

As many as 27 out of a total 50 differently-able persons, who attended the programme, not only decided to contest the polls but even disclosed the ward or village panchayat or council they had identified to file their nomination papers.

Most interesting is the decision of a mentally-ill person, Pazhanivelu, who aspires for a panchayat president post from Ullikoil village in Mannargudi taluk in Tiruvarur district.

"The fight for the cause of the disabled persons will bear results, if they are vested with power", says the Director, ADD India, A. Lakshmi.

In tune with a suggestion by a visually-impaired Professor from the Government Arts College for Women, Pudukottai, Radha Bai, it was also decided to float an exclusive forum comprising physically-disabled persons to fight for their reservation in the local body polls.

From M. Balaganessin in Tiruchi

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