State mulls ration cards for differently-abled

• Acting on information of Visakhapatnam Collector Pravin Kumar, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu directs the Civil Supplies Department to issue ration cards to these persons
• 70 per cent of the mentally and differently-abled persons, who are staying in welfare homes, are urging the government to sanction ration cards for them

Visakhapatnam: Under the humanitarian grounds, Andhra Pradesh Government has decided to relax the rules and regulations in issuing ration cards to mentally and differently-abled persons, who are taking shelter at various welfare homes being run by the NGOs and other agencies.

All these decades, as the mentally retarded and physically challenged persons, staying at various orphan and other welfare homes, are not having ration cards due to lack of proper address and others. 

As they are not having complete family details, caste, residence and other related certificates, the government is not issuing ration cards to them. Visakhapatnam Collector Pravin Kumar, who took an initiative, explained to Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu about the troubles of these people. 

The collector also informed to the Chief Minister that how these people were neglected by the families. 

Acting on the collector’s recommendations, the Chief Minister directed the State Civil Supplies Department to sanction ration cards to those persons who are taking shelter at old age and orphan homes.  
 
Due to various reasons including financial and social reasons in majority of the cases, the persons are leaving their native address and joining in various orphan, old-age and other welfare homes being run by NGOs and other agencies. 

Surprisingly, over 70 per cent of the mentally and differently-abled persons are having PHC certificate obtained from the government. 

The persons revealing their helpless situation urging the government to sanction ration cards for them. However, the Civil Supplies department not considering their applications as there is no proper information and proofs to issue the ration cards.

Though the managements of orphan and old-age-homes have expressing their willingness to provide care-off address to their inmates, the officials are not considering their requests.

“Responding on the issue, Chief Minister immediately directed the civil supplies department to sanction the ration cards and ensure distribution of essential commodities to physically and mentally challenged persons who are staying at orphan and old-age-homes. 

As the government had already issued PHC certificates to them through SADARAM camps, the government finally consider to sanction the ration cards also,” Pravin Kumar said.