The Hindu : Karnataka News : Equal opportunities for visually impaired sought

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Jul 10, 2007
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Karnataka

Karnataka

Equal opportunities for visually impaired sought

Staff Correspondent

Chitradurga: The visually challenged must be given equal opportunities and a level platform to showcase their talent. They have every right to live a dignified life in society, said Minister for Women and Child Welfare H.K. Kumaraswamy.

Speaking after inaugurating a residential school for the blind here on Sunday, he said, “The blind are visionless, but normal people who do not show compassion to them are mindless.”

He said that the coalition Government, considering the plight of the disabled, have augmented the monthly pension from Rs. 200 to Rs. 400 besides issuing below poverty line cards to them. For the welfare of the disabled, the Government has earmarked Rs. 180 crore. The Government has identified over 17 lakh disabled in the State who would benefit from the schemes.

A fund of Rs. 10 crore has been earmarked for the disabled to purchase aids and appliances.

The Minister said that the disabled would be identified at the gram panchayat level itself, to provide them financial assistance.

On the allegations that the Government has not given benefits to all Devadasis of the State, he said that the Government had identified over 22,000 Devadasis in the survey in 10 districts where their population was high. He, however said that the Government would order for resurvey to identify more Devadasis to provide them with facilities who would be given Rs. 400 as monthly pension.

Addressing the gathering, Bharamasagar MLA H. Anjaneya, who has given Rs. 10 lakh from MLA funds for the construction of a building, urged the Minister to grant more funds for the maintenance of the school.

MLC B.T. Chennabassappa, and administrator of Murugha Math S.K. Basavarajan spoke.

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