THE second state conference of Tamilnadu Association for the Rights of All Types of Differently Abled and Caretakers (TARATDAC) was held in Kovilpatti from June 22-24. The conference started with a rally and public meeting on June 22 in the evening. Brinda Karat, CPI(M) Polit Bureau member participated in the rally and addressed the public meeting.  In her speech, she congratulated all the members, cadres and leaders of the organisation for the big struggles that had been carried out during the last three years to assert the rights of the differently abled persons.   She informed the audience that today the organisation is functioning in 14 states and soon, it will become a national organisation.

“The motto of the organisation is to change the attitude of the society towards the differently abled persons.   Today we have IAS officers, IFS officers, doctors, home makers, sports persons, etc from the differently abled segments of the society. But still our rights are not being recognised; neither the central government nor the state government is concerned about this.   We don’t want their charity, but we want them to recognise our rights and give us opportunities and special facilities in education and employment,” she said.

While criticising the rulers for their callousness, Brinda Karat said, “Today cinema theatres, hospitals, offices, malls are being constructed as high-rise buildings.  But, the differently abled persons using wheel chairs are not in a position to access them, as no ramps are provided in these types of buildings.  They find it difficult even to board the buses run by the state transport corporations.  In such a situation, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is contemplating to spend thousands of crores of rupess for bullet trains.  But when we demand ramps in the state transport buses, they say they don’t have money to provide them.  In the trains, the compartments earmarked for the differently abled persons are almost in the fag-end of the train and we feel it extremely difficult to board the train by passing through the entire stretch of the platform.  When we demand special facilities to do away with such difficulties, governments quote the insufficiency of funds and shirk their responsibilities.” 

The United Nations passed a protocol under which every country is duty bound to make provisions to ensure the dignity and equality of the differently abled persons.  India is a signatory to this protocol and yet, it refuses to implement its provisions.  The Bill for the differently abled persons is yet to be adopted by the parliament. She questioned as to why the Modi government which is keen on bringing bullet trains is not interested in passing this bill.  She called on the people to fight against the governments which deny these rights.

The central government has in its budget announced Rs 5 lakh  crores as tax concessions to the big business houses and the corporates.  At the same time, it has effected drastic cut in the allocation of funds for the differently abled persons.  It is a shame that the government has not even increased a single paisa over the meagre amount of Rs 300 that is being given as pension by the central government to the differently abled persons.  This is the gift given by the Modi government to the differently abled persons, Karat said.

PITIABLE PLIGHT UNDER

“AMMA” REGIME!

In Tamilnadu, the situation is such that only when you put money in the pockets of the officers, you can get any certificate.  This is the sorry plight of the disabled under the “Amma” regime. Chief Minister Jayalalithaa has  announced that she will increase the allowance for the differently abled persons.  But, stringent conditions have been imposed to get them.  Nowhere in the country, have such conditions been imposed.  If you have to get the allowance fulfilling these conditions, then you have to be a destitute.  Today, we are demanding universal identity card for the differently abled persons.  It is a shame that in the state, out of the 100 applicants only 42 could get the certificate, noted Brinda Karat. 

We welcome the judgment given by the Supreme Court providing 3 percent reservation for differently abled persons in all employment opportunities.  But, we have to launch struggles to get this order implemented.  The neo-liberal economic policies that are being pursued by the Modi government would have adverse impact on the employment opportunities of the differently abled persons.  Therefore, if we want to get our share in the employment opportunities, then we have to oppose the economic policies of the Modi government.  We have to join our hands with the others who are in such struggles, she said.

If we want equality and dignity in the society, then we have to launch united struggles.  When various hues appear together on the sky, it makes a beautiful rainbow.  Likewise, all types of differently abled persons should join together and fight for our rights, said Brinda Karat.

The public meeting was presided over by P Jhansi Rani, president of TARATDAC.  U Vasuki, vice president of AIDWA, D Lakshmanan, vice president of TARATDAC and S  Namburajan, general secretary, TARATDAC also addressed the meeting.  Earlier, orchestra troupe consisting of visually impaired persons regaled the audience with songs highlighting the menaces prevailing in the society.

The delegate session of the conference was held on June 23-24.  413 delegates from various parts of the state participated in the conference.  Brinda Karat inaugurated the conference and also felicitated the differently abled persons who have made achievements in various fields.  S Namburajan placed the work report.   R Malliga, treasurer of Tamilnadu state committee of AIDWA, S Muthukannan, state president of DYFI, M Kannan, state vice president of SFI greeted the conference.  Muralidharan, secretary of National Platform for the Rights of Disabled delivered the concluding address.

The conference elected a state committee with 93 members with H Ramakrishnan as honorary president, P Jansi Rani as president, S Namburajan as general secretary and K R Chakravarthy as treasurer.  The conference gave a call for laying siege to all the taluk offices in the state on August 25. The conference adopted resolutions demanding issuance of universal ID card for all disabled persons; urging non-linking of Aadhaar card for getting benefits under the welfare schemes for the disabled persons of the state government; demanding allocation of 3 percent of budget allocation as specified by the Persons with Disability Act 1995; demanding the state government to withdraw the stringent norms that have been imposed to get the benefits under the welfare schemes, etc.