Disabled persons cry foul
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, August 18:
Strongly protesting the failure of the Government to extend the requisite benefits to them, the All Tribal Disabilities' Union, Manipur (ATDUM) has decided impose a total bandh from 6 am of August 29 to 6 am of August 30 as well as to indefinitely close down all the district Social Welfare Department offices from August 25 .
Speaking to reporters at its office today, president of ATDUM, Momo Tantanga they have decided to take agitate since the Government has failed to respond to their demand to raise the financial assistance, unemployment allowances, conveyance allowance and scholarships for the physically challenged persons.
If the Government remains adamant and indifferent to their demands then they would be constrained to take up other intense agitation, he warned.
Accusing the Government of turning a blind eye to the condition of the physically challenged persons, Momo Tantanga said that the authority concerned has not taken up any welfare measures to help them live as members of the society.
Citing an example, Tantanga said that the State Government has till date not set up a channelising agency to ensure that the loan given by the National Handicap Finance and Development Co-operation reach the physically handicapped persons in the State.
Moreover no steps have been taken to provide concessions for the handicapped persons while travelling in passenger buses, he said and added that other States have set up separate independent departments to deal with issues concerning the handicapped persons.
At present there are about 29 thousand certified handicapped persons, he informed and lamented that the Government has not done anything for their welfare.
The Handicap Development Council, Tera has also announced that it will support taken up by ATDUM.