For more than 50 days, the discourse on the impact of COVID-19 did not focus adequately on issues faced by differently-abled persons, says the community. “My husband and I are physically challenged. I was running a bunk shop near our house and due to the lockdown, it was shut down. My husband’s income was also stopped due to the shutdown. The government said that they will help us by giving money but no help has reached us yet. Our health care needs are also not met as hospitals are turning away patients,” said Manimala P (35) from Saidapet.

She added that the government should make arrangements for funds to help them. “If the lockdown is extended, we don’t have a choice but to commit suicide because, without any income, it is difficult for us to manage the family. Our children are suffering with us. There is no support from relatives or friends. No one has bothered to ask us about the problems we face,” rued Manimala. Other differently-abled people are managing with the provisions provided at the ration shops. Though some volunteers are distributing food, they claim that they don’t get provisions always and they starve many days.

“My monthly income is Rs 4,000. With that, I have to buy medicines worth Rs 2,000 for my son and pay rent. I haven’t paid rent for the past two months due to lack of income. The house owner is now threatening to vacate us if we did not pay the rent this month. I have been borrowing money to buy medicines for my son. My wife is bedridden and I have to take care of her too. We can’t even afford three meals a day. The government should take steps to provide essential items for those who are suffering like us,” said Thangavel, a 69-year-old man who has been taking care of his mentally challenged son for more than 35 years.

According to members of the Tamil Nadu Association for the Rights of All Types of Differently-abled and Caregivers, a differently-abled person needs more money compared to a normal person. If their needs are not met, it could affect their mental health, too. “Though the problems faced by differently-abled are being discussed on social media platforms often, the problems persist. The government is not doing enough to ensure the well-being of the community. We are doing everything in our capacity to help them,” said S Namburajan, general secretary, Tamil Nadu Association for the Rights of All Types of Differently-abled and Caregivers.