The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : “Status of disabled women worse than that of men”

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Monday, Mar 31, 2008
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

“Status of disabled women worse than that of men”

Staff Reporter

Convention of Tamil Nadu Handicapped Federation held

— PHOTO: R.RAVINDRAN

HELPING THE NEEDY: Hemalatha Rajan, Director, Ma Foi Management Consultants Ltd (right), giving away spectacles to a visually impaired woman at a function in Chennai on Saturday. Social Welfare Board chairperson Salma is in the picture.

CHENNAI: A policy similar to those in Karnataka, Goa and Andhra Pradesh is needed to implement the legislations for people with disabilities, said G.Chidambaranathan, president, Tamil Nadu Handicapped Federation, here on Saturday.

There are eight lakh disabled women in Tamil Nadu, but their status is worse than that of disabled men, he said inaugurating the eighth convention of the Federation.

The government must frame special schemes for such women.

If the physically challenged women were not to be considered a burden by their families, they should be economically independent, he pointed out.

Industrial parks

“The government could set up industrial parks for such women with support from banks where women can work as a team. They also need low-cost residential accommodation. Their needs are unique but only if these needs are addressed will they be empowered,” Mr. Chidambaranathan said. Giving priority to such women in welfare schemes would improve their status.

As a first step the population of such disabled women should be accounted for at the panchayat and village level.

Though the budget had provided much for various sections of society, the disabled people had not received any mention, he said.

Representatives of various organisations, including Sun Agency, Ma Foi Management Consultants Ltd and CRY who participated in the programme distributed sewing machines, white canes and spectacles to the physically challenged and visually impaired women.

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