|
A state-level convention on the rights/social security of women with disabilities is to be held in Chennai on March 24.
The Tamil Nadu Handicapped Federation Charitable Trust (TNHFCT) is a registered federation run by the disabled persons for the disabled. It integrates 35 handicapped welfare associations across 24 districts in Tamil Nadu. It has nearly 79,000 disabled persons as its members.
Of about 18 lakh disabled persons, 8 lakh are women. These people are disabled by birth or became disabled due to other reasons. In the rural areas, literacy rate among the disabled girls is the lowest. A majority of these girls are deprived of basic schooling and most of them are school dropouts. It is a fact that these girls, as they grow up, form the unemployed lot of society.
Getting into wedlock is a major problem for disabled girls and even if they get married, most of them are deserted with children by their husbands. Men who marry disabled women most often go in for second marriage and these women are left uncared-for. It is true that many disabled women just exist in remote villages without a dignified life.
The problems and challenges confronting these rural disabled women are addressed by TNHFCT with the help of the state government, NGOs, CSRs and well-wishers.
About 200 disabled women from various districts of Tamil Nadu are to participate in the state-level convention that is to be held at Takkar Baba Vidyalaya, Vinobha Hall, Chennai - 600 017, on March 24, from 9.30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The programme would focus on the awareness of schemes in 'Vazhndhu Kaattuvom Project - a Government of Tamil Nadu initiative for the empowerment of rural disabled.
As part of the programme, TNHFCT plans to give:
1. Tricycles for 10 ortho-disabled women.
2. Sewing machine for another 10-20 disabled women.
3. Support for another 10 disabled women for self-employment.
4. Educational support for another 10 disabled women.
5. Braille kits for another 10 visually challenged women.
6. Hearing aids for another 10 women.
7. Support to make a livelihood for 10 leprosy-afflicted women.
8. Bank loans for self-employment to 10 disabled women
9. Role model awards to 10 disabled women.
|
