Physically challenged persons demand welfare schemes

Aizawl, Oct 27(UNI) Chief Commissioner for Persons with Disability Dr Manoj Kumar will visit the state on Monday to discuss the condition of the differently abled persons in Mizoram and urge the government to initiate welfare schemes for them.

Unhappy with the state government's lackadaisical attitude towards the physically challanged people in the state, he will be opening a mobile court for the disabled persons here.

According to the 'Differently-abled Society of Mizoram', the Mizoram government is yet to implement the Mizoram Persons with Disabilities(Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Rules, 1999, which provides at least three per cent job reservations in different government services.

The physically challenged persons inthe state have alleged that they were not even aware of what they are entitled to and what kind of help the Centre can provide them.

Among others accusations, the disabled persons, also voiced concern over the inaccessibility of most government offices and public places with wheelchairs and absence of auditory signals for visually-impaired persons.

A differently abled person, on condition of anonymity, has even accused the banks of denying him a Pradan Mantri Razgar Yajona loan, despite his being selected by the loan board.

UNI