CHENNAI: Madras High Court Chief Justice A.P. Shah on Sunday urged State Governments to formulate plans and set deadlines for implementing the Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act, 1995.

The major deficiency in the Act was the absence of any time limit. Until the final measures were taken, the States must provide temporary relief, he told the State conference of the Tamilnadu Association for the Welfare of the Physically Handicapped.

Mr. Shah said the commissioners appointed under the Act were never from the disabled sector. "They invariably hold ostensible posting elsewhere and pay attention to their statutory duties under the Act in a cursory fashion."

Though the Act contained powerful provisions mandating the States to provide free education, transport and books to the disabled children, "in no State the Act is fully implemented. In rural areas, the position of the disabled children is absolutely pathetic." Mr. Shah also urged employers in the private sector to provide jobs to the disabled.

Social Welfare Minister Poongothai said the State Government planned to establish early intervention centres in various districts for children born deaf. From the next academic year, it planned to offer B.C.A. and B.Com for the hearing impaired at the Presidency College here. Incentives would also be provided to households not admitting their hearing and vision impaired children to hostels. Ms. Poongothai assured the Association that she would take up its demands with the Chief Minister. Association leaders highlighted the problems of the physically challenged and sought inclusion of the disabled in committees set up to go into their issues and representation for them in elected bodies.

The Association website, www.udavikkaram.org, was launched.

Its demands included implementation of the Act; three per cent reservation for the disabled in employment, including in the private sector, education, local bodies, legislative assembly and Parliament; constitution of a special board for the welfare of the physically challenged; provision of free bus pass and all purpose identity card to such people; and exemption from professional tax.

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