CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu will launch a State-wide census of persons with disabilities, which will help the policymakers sharpen intervention efforts and tailor the efforts on the basis of requirements specific to each area, said senior officials.
So far, the numbers are available only on the basis of the figures from Census 2011, which are dated by a few years and also do not reveal details about the nature of disability, the concentration of the population and other details that are required for any policy intervention, which has prompted the State authorities to go for a separate headcount of persons with disability (PwD).
Noting that the population of persons with disability was increasing in the State, Mohammed Nasimuddin, principal secretary, department of welfare of differently-abled persons, said that maternal anaemia and some toxic pollutants in the air could lead to cognitive delay or mental backwardness in children.
Improving awareness among expecting mothers and young women is essential, he said, adding that the State government is planning to bring out a booklet in Tamil on guidelines on mental retardation and its associated problems, and the preventive measures.
“As 60 per cent of rural population don’t know English, a booklet in the vernacular language will help to educate them on the issue,” Nasimuddin added.
The official was speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a two-day workshop and conference on “Early intervention in mental retardation and associated disabilities, age group, birth to six year’, organised
by Madhuram Narayanan Centre for Exceptional Children.
To a question on accessible buildings for the disabled, the secretary said that over 25-old government buildings in Chennai and Coimbatore were shortlisted for retrofitting under Accessible India Campaign. “Making toilets accessible is the priority; the Central government has already sanctioned `3.80 crore out of the total `20 crore budget,” Nasimuddin added.
In Chennai, the Collectorate office and railway stations were a few among the shortlisted buildings.
He added that mobile therapy units for PwD had received good response.
Jaya Krishnaswamy, director, Madhuram Narayanan Centre, also spoke during the occasion.