Chennai: Social welfare minister B. VaÂlaÂrmathi on Monday assured disabled persons that 3 per cent reservation for them in government jobs would be implemented without fail. Hundreds of disabled persons from various districts gathered in the city for a protest asking for implementation of the reservation policy and increase in monthly assistance for disabled persons.
Lending an ear to the disabled persons, minister ValaÂrmathi promised that she would put forth their demands before CM JayalaÂlithÂaa and ensure that their griÂevances were addressed. As the associations of disabled persons took out a rally from Chitra theatre on Anna Salai to Albert theatre in Egmore, the minister asked them to call off their protest and arranged for an immediate meeting at the secretariat.
In a media release, B. Jansi Rani, president of TARATDAC (Tamil Nadu for the rights of all types of differently abled and caregivers), said the minister reacted positively and agreed to meet the demands. “We pointed out how the 3 per cent reservation is not followed in many government departments to employ disabled persons.
Though we have raised the issue with the departments, they did not react and fail to fill up the vacancies,” she said. Another team member, S. NamÂburajan, said considering the living costs and medical bills, the government should incÂrease the monthly assistance from '1,000 to '3,000.
