HYDERABAD: Telangana high court on Wednesday asked the special secretary of disabled welfare department, Divya Devarajan, to hold a fortnightly live interaction with persons with disabilities (PWDs) across the state to resolve their issues.
A bench of Chief Justice Raghavendra Singh Chauhan and Justice B Vijaysen Reddy interacted with Divya during the hearing of a PIL filed by Shiva Ganesh Karnati of Uppal seeking measures to protect the crisis-hit PWDs.
Lamenting that the government and civil society are not showing enough concern for the welfare of the weak, old and the disabled, the judges wondered: “Are we turning into Eskimos of Alaska that allowed their old people to perish.” They ought a fresh report from the state government on the steps taken to alleviate their problems by July 14.
Divya narrated her previous experience as district collector of Adilabad wherein she used to interact with physically challenged persons every fourth Saturday and resolve their problems. The bench asked her to emulate the Adilabad model throughout the state since she is in-charge of the disabled people’s welfare.
Divya explained to the court that they have Rs 3.5 crore with them to assist the disabled and that they have a budget of Rs 1,800 crore along with 64,000 anganwadi teachers to reach out to the disabled. The bench wanted the state government to give wide publicity to this aspect and make the PWDs aware of their rights and the availability of all kinds of assistance from the state machinery.
“Tell them about the nearest authority they can contact for help,” the bench said. Petitioner’s counsel Kowturu Pavan Kumar said that there are 10 lakh physically challenged people in the state and all the assistance is going only to those with white ration cards. “The state needs to reach out to those who do not possess such cards,” he said.
Divya said that the state has Rs 3.5 crore to assist the disabled and a budget of Rs 1,800 crore along with 64,000 anganwadi teachers to reach out to them
A bench of Chief Justice Raghavendra Singh Chauhan and Justice B Vijaysen Reddy interacted with Divya during the hearing of a PIL filed by Shiva Ganesh Karnati of Uppal seeking measures to protect the crisis-hit PWDs.
Lamenting that the government and civil society are not showing enough concern for the welfare of the weak, old and the disabled, the judges wondered: “Are we turning into Eskimos of Alaska that allowed their old people to perish.” They ought a fresh report from the state government on the steps taken to alleviate their problems by July 14.
Divya narrated her previous experience as district collector of Adilabad wherein she used to interact with physically challenged persons every fourth Saturday and resolve their problems. The bench asked her to emulate the Adilabad model throughout the state since she is in-charge of the disabled people’s welfare.
Divya explained to the court that they have Rs 3.5 crore with them to assist the disabled and that they have a budget of Rs 1,800 crore along with 64,000 anganwadi teachers to reach out to the disabled. The bench wanted the state government to give wide publicity to this aspect and make the PWDs aware of their rights and the availability of all kinds of assistance from the state machinery.
“Tell them about the nearest authority they can contact for help,” the bench said. Petitioner’s counsel Kowturu Pavan Kumar said that there are 10 lakh physically challenged people in the state and all the assistance is going only to those with white ration cards. “The state needs to reach out to those who do not possess such cards,” he said.
Divya said that the state has Rs 3.5 crore to assist the disabled and a budget of Rs 1,800 crore along with 64,000 anganwadi teachers to reach out to them
Coronavirus outbreak
Trending Topics
LATEST VIDEOS
More from TOI
Navbharat Times
Featured Today in Travel
Get the app