ATDUM highlights grievances
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, June 02 2011: The All Tribal Disables' Union, Manipur (ATDUM) has alleged that the State Government and the State Medical Board have failed to address the grievances of and problems being faced physically challenged persons in obtaining Disability Certificates.

There are many physically challenged persons living without Disability Certificates and most of them could not come to Imphal to obtain Disability Certificates as they belong to remote rural areas of the State in addition to various other problems hampering their movement, said a press release issued by ATDUM.

For lack of Disability Certificates, these people could not apply and get benefits like schemes, jobs, financial assistance, scholarship, unemployment allowance etc even though 3 per cent reservation is allotted to physically challenged persons in Government services.

Informing that there were complaints of disabled teachers given posting at far off places/schools, ATDUM appealed to the Autonomous District Councils to give postings of handicapped teachers at their respective villages or the nearest villages.

It also urged upon the Chief minister to open a multipurpose training institute for disabled persons in the State.

Saying that application forms for Indira Gandhi National Disability Pension Scheme and Widow Pension Scheme were not issued to disabled persons/public due to absence of the District Social Welfare Officer, Tamenglong, it asked the DSO to attend office regularly.

Alleging that out of 25 employees recruited as Multipurpose Rehabilitation Workers (MRW) on contract basis on August 24, 2004, service period of 13 employees have been extended while the remaining 12 employees were left out, ATDUM appealed to the concerned authorities to extend the service period of the remaining 12 MRWs as well who have been working in disability cell/section under Social Welfare Department.

Even as repeated appeals have been made to the State Government and concern authorities to expand and institute District Medical Board at respective district headquarters, there has been no response from the State Government till date.

In case the concerned authorities fail to fulfil all these demands by this month, ATDUM would be compelled to launch various modes of agitation in collaboration with district federating units and other civil organisations, added the release.

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