Paralytic man has to attend medical camp miles away

Rajendranagar: People with disabilities, especially those affected by paralysis, find it extremely difficult to move from their place, are being told to attend medical camp to get examined before they are issued a certificate from the Software for Assessment of Disabled for Access Rehabilitation and Empowerment (SADAREM).

It is only during election the differently abled persons are provided transportation facility to reach polling both. The same was not being extended on other days to attend medical camps being organised to issue SADAREM certificates.

The case of Imtiaz, 20, suffering with paralysis is a fitting example of government's apathy towards the plight of differently abled persons. "During elections the authorities decided to provide transportation to disabled voters to ensure cent per cent polling.

However, once the polls are over, the differently abled persons are left in lurch. Imtiaz, is such a case where the authorities need to realise the pain and agony of a family who can't afford to lift the 20-year-old on their shoulder and reach the SADAREM camp being organised 20 kms away from here", said Shaik Mahboob, president, Pattana Vikalangula Samakya, Rangareddy District.

"Nobody really cares about disabled people living in such a distressful state. At least medical camps should be held in every mandal to facilitate disabled persons to approach camps in areas near to them or people with grave disability should be provided with transportation facility to reach out to the camps and get examined," said Syed Afroz, president, Telangana Disabled Welfare Society.

When contacted, the SADAREM Camp in-charge Rangareddy District, Venkat Reddy said that "Our role is just to hold medical camps and check the disability of the persons. For transport facility, the District Collector is the competent authority to provide the same. It is better if the aggrieved persons approach the Collector and make a representation seeking transport facility for people suffering from grave nature of disability."