PWDs allege deprivation
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, January 31, 2011:
Although the fund for providing unemployment allowance to persons with disabilities (PWDs) has been withdrawn, Social Welfare Department deprives the benefit, vice chairman of Handicapped Foundation P Gopen has alleged.
Addressing a press conference at Manipur Press Club here this afternoon, Gopen pointed out that the fund for providing unemployment allowance to the certified PWDs for the period 2010-2011 had been withdrawn, but the Social Welfare Department of the State Government has not extended any allowance to the beneficiaries.
The allowance for the year 2009-2010 have also not been given after July, 2009, he disclosed, while drawing the attention of all concerned in this regard.
General secretary of Handicapped Foundation Sapam Jasobanta, who was also present during the press conference, while informing that separate column have been provided for PWDs in the census report from this year, appealed to all the family members and other elders of PWDs not to hide information from the enumerators who would be coming for the census exercise as this would lead to deprivation of the rights of PWDs.
Enumerators should also not be hesitant from asking relevant questions in this connection, he further appealed.
Secretary of Manipur North Economic Development Association Rangramei, who was also present at the occasion, pointed out that in Senapati district, instead of visiting the remote areas , the enumerators have been carrying out Census exercise while sitting in some hotels of district headquarters.