The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Finance corporation for the disabled soon

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Wednesday, Dec 27, 2006
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Finance corporation for the disabled soon

Special Correspondent

Monthly stipend to be enhanced to Rs. 400: Kumaraswamy

A GENTLE REMINDER: Acting Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission Justice Shivraj V. Patil (left) discusses a point with Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy at a review meeting relating to disability issues in Bangalore on Tuesday. — Phot o: K. Gopinathan

Bangalore: Karnataka is setting up separate finance corporation to help the disabled from the next financial year, Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy said here on Tuesday.

Speaking at the review of work relating to disability issues by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) acting Chairperson Justice Shivaraj V. Patil, Mr. Kumaraswamy said Karnataka was declared a "model State" in handling disability issues by the Office of the Chief Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities.

The Government would be implementing several welfare measures for the disabled next financial year, including enhancing their monthly stipend from Rs. 200 to Rs. 400, forming self-help groups (SHG) for the disabled on the lines of women's SHGs, providing bus passes to one lakh people and providing them reservation in housing schemes. Mr. Patil, who addressed the review meeting attended by secretaries of all government departments, stressed the need to effectively implement good laws. While appreciating State's policy for the disabled (approved by the Cabinet last week) that covers all aspects of employment and education, he said the challenge was in implementing what was on paper in right earnest. Going into specific issues, he said while the State had provided 3 per cent reservation to the disabled in educational institutions, the connected issue of how children could be retained in schools had to be addressed seriously.

About filling vacancies reserved for disabled, he said the Government should think of making a one-time appointment to fill all backlog vacancies.

The Government should come to the aid of departments to ensure that public buildings were made disabled-friendly, Mr. Patil said.

Karnataka, he said, had been tardy in following up the NHRC recommendations on disability issues, framed during the earlier national conference. A questionnaire submitted by NHRC had not received response from several government departments.

Making a presentation earlier, State Commissioner for Disabilities L. Krishnamurthy said that district commissioners had not been prompt in sending quarterly reviews on implementation of schemes for the disabled.

About statistics on the nature of complaints received by the department, he said 35 per cent of them were related to jobs.

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