Physically disabled to hold Maha Dharna on Nov 25

Bagh Lingampally: National general secretary of National Platform for the Rights of the Disabled (NPRD) Muralidharan called upon disabled persons to participate in 'Maha Dharna' to be held in New Delhi on November 25, demanding that the central government implement the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016. He was speaking at the national office bearers meeting of NPRD held at Sundaraiah Vignana Kendram here on Friday.

Speaking to media after the meeting, Muralidharan demanded that governments issue disability certificates for 21 different types of disabilities and uniform identity cards for all disabled persons across the nation. He also demanded a pension of Rs 5,000 for the disabled and a special allowance of Rs 3,000 for their guardians.

He also demanded free education for disabled students in government as well as private institutions, 5 per cent reservations in higher education and enactment of a special act to prevent atrocities against disabled women. He appealed to the government to take special measures to promote sports for disabled. He advised the government to form a special commission for the effective implementation of Disabilities Act.

The NPRD leader felt that the central government had failed to implement reservations for disabled in the private sector. The central government which called disabled as 'specially abled' had only allocated Rs 135 crore for the welfare of the disabled, he lamented.

Speaking of the central government schemes like 'Sugamya' and 'Bharath Abhiyan,' he said that they had not benefitted disabled persons but were initiated only for publicity purpose. He also criticised the central government for its failure to implement UN treaties on rights of disabled.