The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Corporation holds camp for persons with disability

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Sunday, Jan 10, 2010
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Corporation holds camp for persons with disability

Staff Reporter

Over 550 persons submit petitions to the Mayor

— Photo: M.Vedhan

HELPING HAND: Mayor M.Subramanian receives a petition at a camp for persons with disability, organised by Chennai Corporation, on Saturday. Corporation Commissioner Rajesh Lakhoni is in the picture.

CHENNAI: G.Subbulakshmi and her husband, D.Shanmugaraj, are visually impaired. She earns Rs.50 a day by selling plastic pouches for identity cards on EMU services. “My husband repair chairs… but our family of four is unable to manage with the meagre income. We are looking for some financial assistance to set up a small business,” she said.

Ms. Subbulakshmi was one of the 562 persons with disabilities who submitted petitions to Mayor M. Subramanian at a special camp organised by Chennai Corporation on Saturday. While 244 persons sought pension, the rest wanted loans, jobs, vehicles and other aid.

There were others too like S.Sudhakar and N.Balamohan, who wanted loans to start a DTP and college project work centre. “Banks have only turned us back citing one reason or the other. We have not given up hope. In the meantime, we got to know about his camp and came here to apply for pension for the disabled,” said Sudhakar.

Addressing the gathering, Mr. Subramanian listed the measures being initiated by the Corporation for their benefit. It had recently procured a specially designed bus for use by students of the School for Special Children run by the Corporation. He said that ramps were constructed in over 200 buildings belonging to the civic body.

Commissioner Rajesh Lakhoni and Deputy Commissioner (Health) P. Jyothi Nirmala participated. Many persons with disability who attended the programme and have not yet been covered under the Kalaignar Health Insurance Scheme were photographed for inclusion. A medical camp was organised and calcium and vitamin tablets were provided.

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