மாற்றுத்திறனாளிகளுக்கு கலைஞர் செய்த எண்ணற்ற உதவிகள் மற்றும்
ஏழைகளுக்கு இலவச மருத்துவ உதவியும் இலவச கண் சிகிச்சை முகாம்களும் பகுதி (5)
Schemes for the Welfare of the Handicapped
The State Social Welfare Board came into existence in 1954. The
Directorate of Women’s Welfare was formed in 1955. All the above two
agencies were combined to form the Department of women’s Welfare in 1961.
In the year 1972, the Department of Women’s Welfare was redesignated
as the Department of Social Welfare by expanding its scope to cover various
activities such as the Nutrition’s Meal Programme for pre-School children,
programme for care of nursing mothers, and the Home for Beggars. The same
department was also asked to undertake various welfare measures for the
physically handicapped.
In the year 1974 a survey of physically handicapped was undertaken to
gather relevant details and to introduce various welfare measures. The total
number of handicapped persons was estimated to be 2,351 lakhs. This included
1.15 lakh orthopaedically handicapped, 72,745 Deaf, mutes and 46,118 Blind.
This survey enabled the government to devise rehabilitation scheme to help the
physically handicapped.
A state Board was organized for studying the problems of the
handicapped from all aspects and for rendering suitable assistance to all those
already engaged in this cause and to give direct help in all deserving cases.
The Minister for Social Welfare was made the chairman of the Board.
The
Boards functions were as follows:
1. To identify the difficulties in extending rehabilitation or service to the
physically handicapped in TamilNadu.
2. To improve the state of Physically handicapped in consultation with the
State Government and to plan and execute various programmes to
improve the state of the physically handicapped through medical,
vocational and social rehabilitation.
3. To identify the employment opportunities and to place the handicapped in
suitable employement.
4. To extend aid to individuals / associations / organizations which were
working for the development and welfare of the handicapped in the State.
5. Similarly to Co-ordinate the Board’s activities with those of the
Rehabilitations centres so as to enable them to successfully carry out their
programmes.
The fund allocated for the physically handicapped was administered by
the chairman, namely the Minister for Social Welfare. Fourteen schemes were
formulated for the welfare of the handicapped.
These schemes can be
classified into four categories.
They were :
1. Schemes for the age group of 6-16 years.
2. Schemes for the age group of 16-50 years.
3. Schemes for the age group of over 50 years.
4. General schemes.
For those under the 6-16 years of age group, five special schools were
founded for the Deaf and Mute costing about Rs.6 lakhs. Further a centre was to
be opened for training teachers to teach the physically handicapped. For the
above purpose a sum of Rs.3 lakhs was set apart.
The above arrangement
enabled the handicapped children to pursue their education while under
treatment. For the treatment of these handicapped children an amount of Rs.7.5
lakhs was allocated and the schools were attached to the District Headquarters
Hospitals.
In 1974 the Government started schools attached to orthopaedic
centres and District Head quarters Hospitals where children who received
medical treatment could continue their education without break.
The following
government Hospitals have orthopaedic schools attached to them.
1. Government General Hospital, Madras.
2. Government Stanley Hospital, Madras.
3. Government Children Hospital, Madras.
4. Government Royapettah Hospital, Madras.
5. Thanjavur Medical College Hospital, Thanjavur.
6. Tirunelveli Medical College Hospital, Tirunelveli.
7. Madurai Medical College Hospital, Madurai.
8. Coimbatore Medical College Hospital, Coimbatore.
Expenditure for running these schools was borne by the Social Welfare
Department of the Government of Tamil Nadu.
The State Government has subsidised the cost of limbfitting with the intention of making rehabilitation
accessible even to the poor and had spent Rs.45,000 every year.
For those in the age group of 16-50 years apprentice schemes were
envisaged. The trainees were to be recruited as apprentices in selected
departments like Transport Department, Government Transport Corporation, the
Stationery ant Printing Department, Tamil Nadu Small Scale Industries
Corporation and Khadi and Village Industries Boards.
An allowance of Rs.50/-
per trainee per month was paid for a period of six months Subsequently these
apprentices were to be absorbed on permanent basis in the respective
departments and undertakings. The total fund provided for the scheme was Rs.3
lakhs.
Establishment of training cum production workshop to provide
employment for 150 physically handicapped persons at a cost of Rs.10 lakhs on
the Madras Mahabalipuram Highways was another measure.
Under this
programme a training cum production workshop to cater to 150 physically
handicapped persons was proposed to be established at Muttukadu in 1975.
In the year 1975, seventy five physically handicapped candidates were trained in
three batches and were employed in the workshop itself in the manufacture and
fabrication of steel products.
Further, the government spent
Rs.25 lakhs as against Rs.10 lakhs in production work in light engineering, structural work and machine components commenced at Muttukadu.
Further about seventeen wheel chairs, ninety eight tricycles, one hundred and
thirteen healing aids, and ninety four aluminium crutches were distributed.
Provision was made for training about 5000 physically handicapped
persons for employment in labour intensive industries. They were to be trained in
the following labour intensive occupations
(a) Match making (b) Beedimaking
(c) Handlooms and (d) Hosiery. A stipend of Rs.30/- per month was to be paid.
The fund allotted for the above scheme was Rs.5 lakhs during the year 1974-75.
The handicapped women were also trained in cloth weaving, mat weaving
and handloom weaving.
Secretarial Courses **
To benefit the orthopaedically handicapped and the Deaf and Mutes who
had passed the S.S.L.C. examination, twenty centres were proposed to be
established to impart training in typewriting and shorthand at a cost of Rs.8.80
lakhs. Each trainee was to be paid thirty rupees per month as stipend.
This
scheme was to benefit four hundred candidates in 1974-75. Further, at Stree Seva
Mandir, orthopaedically handicapped women were given training in typewriting
and shorthand at the cost of the government.
Tailoring Centres**
An amount of Rs.5,47,700 was allocated for the opening of twenty
tailoring centres for the orthopaedically handicapped and the Deaf-Mutes.
A monthly stipend of Rs.30.00 was to be paid for the trainees. Deaf girls were also
trained in Doll making, embroidery and dress making. Blind girls were trained in
mat-weaving and handloom weaving.
Training in the verification and sorting out of Punch Cards of computers
for four months in Data processing Centre, Madras was given to the
orthopaedically handicapped and Deaf-Mutes, with a stipend of Rs.50/- per
month.
The total fund allotted for this purpose was eighty thousand.
The government wanted to preferentially reserve certain posts like lift
operators for the physically handicapped.
Special Employment Exchange were proposed to be opened, both in
Madras and in other Districts. The special employment exchanges were created
in 1962, but were made more effective during the D.M.K. period.
The
various activities of the special employment exchanges include culling out of
vacancies and bringing them to the notice and sponsoring the most suitable
registrants for employers' consideration.
Follow up actions like motivating the
employers and indentifying suitable job openings where the disabled persons can be productively employed by conducting job studies and job analysis. Further,
some schemes like the following have been devised;
1. Assistance in formation of Co-operative societies by the physically
handicapped for self-employment eg., the Co- operative society for the
Blind.
2. Establishment of a Book Binding Training Centre on December 7, 1972
for the physically handicapped inside the Madras Museum under the
direct supervision of the Special Employment Exchange.
3. Free Medical examination to the candidates selected for the posts in
Group 'C' and 'D' cadres in Government offices. .
4. The Special Employment Exchange in Madras assisted interested disabled
youth to benefit themselves under the massive Bank Stall scheme by
recommending such course to the Director of Social Welfare.
5. Recommending the deserving and qualified handicapped individuals to
Revenue authorities for grants of old age pension.
For the benefit of the orthopaedically handicapped, manufacture of
artificial limbs were being carried out at the following places:
1. The Government General Hospital., Madras.
2. The Government Erskine Hospital, Madurai.
3. Coimbatore Headquarter's Hospital, Coimbatore.
4. Raja Mirasdar Hospital, Tanjore.
The table below shows the Performance of Special Employment
Exchanges in Tamil Nadu.
Period
Number of
candidates
Registered
No. of Persons
placed in
Employment
Number on the live
Register
1967 X X X
1968 - 69 576 170 607
1969 - 70 548 179 764
1970 - 71 557 166 854
1971 - 72 562 136 1032
1972 - 73 531 102 1050
1973 - 74 765 188 1471
1974 - 75 1310 226 2319
1975 - 76 1148 320 2607
About 23% of the total population of the physically handicapped were in
the age group of above fifty. The only welfare measure that could be
implemented for that age group was the old age pension scheme.
The former
pension grant which had been granted earlier was increased to one hundred and
fifty lakhs rupees in the year 1974-75.
This old age Pension scheme for the
destitute and handicapped beggars was carted as early as 1962. This scheme was
modified in the ear 1974 to extend the benefit to the physically handicapped.
Those with disability of 50% or more are antitled to the pension. The age limit
was reduced from 60 to 55 years. The Government reserved 10,000 beneficiaries
exclusively for the physically handicapped.
Tamil Nadu was the first state to start an Artificial slimb Centre for the rehabilitation of the physically handicapped. One centre had already been started
by the Government of India at Pune in 1944.
In 1963 an Artificial slimb
Centre was started as part of the Orthopaedic Department of the
'Government General Hospital, Madras.
The Institute of Child Health is
furnished with an orthopaedic Department from 1972, and two clinics
exclusively to treat congenital club foot and polio-Hycites. The
Department attended to all types of Orthopaedic problems in infancy and
childhood. The credit of opening the first hand injury unit in India goes to the
Government of Tamil Nadu.
From the year 1971 a Diploma Course in
Psychological Medicine had been started in Tamil Nadu. During the year 1973,
training in psychiatry was also given to students of Medicine, Nursing, and
Social Work.
A medical officer and a pharmacist were sent continuously to the
rural areas to give psychiatric treatment.
Clinics for the Adolescent were
started in 1971 and it treats 200 children between the age group of 13-18.
Neurosis Clinic had been functioning from 1969. Patients suffering from
neurosis like anxiety, spate, hysteria, obsessive compulsive neurosis etc., were
treated.
There are separate blocks for male, female, children and criminal
lunatics.
The Education of the Blind in Pre-Inciependence period was thoroughly
neglected by the Government. Thirty two schools with a total strength of 1212
existed throughout India in 1944 and 1059 seats were vacant in these schools.
Normally parents neglected the education of their blind children. The Tamil
Nadu government found that the existing schools for the blind were not enough.
so a provision of 80 Rs.3, lakhs was proposed for this purpose.
As per the
programme these schools were opened at Chingleput, Coonoor and
Chidambaram in 1975-76.153 Government's concern for the education of the
handicapped was extended to other fields also as explained above. It included
medical treatment and employment. For Medical treatment, Glaucoma Clinics
and Orthopaedic Clinics were started for correction of squint eyes and treatment
of muscle imbalance in 1967. The third 82 operation theatre was opened in
1968.
Further, a new out-patient block was started with theatre, auditorium,
bacteriological, pathological and biochemical laboratories at the Madras Eye
Hospital. These cost the government about Rs.18.75 lakhs. For the disabled
who continued with their collegiate education, the government contributed
Rs.72,200 in the form of scholarships in 1973-74, Rs.74,000 in 1974-75 and
Rs.68,010 in 1975-76.
Two more blind schools were opened at Tiruvarur and
Nagercoil in 1975. The government appointed four blind persons as Lecturers in
the colleges during 1974. This was considered to be one of the means of rehabilitating the blind. The Government's intention was to encourage blind
graduates after reviewing the performance of the four lecturers.
Thus the Government's efforts to secure the welfare of the disabled did
not stop with formal educational institutions, rehabilitation homes and
providing medical care. It also created employment opportunities in respect of
recruitment to State Government vacancies in Grade III, priority being accorded
to the physically handicapped.156
State awards were also given for the best
employees and employers of the handicapped.
These awards were introduced in
1971 to encourage both the physically handicapped and the people who were in a
position to employ them. By giving recognition to the services rendered by the
physically handicapped, hesitant employers could be convinced of their abilities.
Further, an award was given to outstanding employees of the blind, deaf,
orthopaedically handicapped, mentally retarded and leprosy cured.
Thus the Tamil Nadu government took all steps to see that the physically
handicapped were aided in all fields to encourage them to live a life of
independence, not reduced to a life of drudgery and begging.
ஏழைகளுக்கு இலவச மருத்துவ உதவியும் இலவச கண் சிகிச்சை முகாம்களும்
Free Health Service for the Financially underprivileged
The programme of free eye camps was revived in 1972. Originally it
existed during the congress rule but it was not effectively implemented and the
areas covered were very few and finally even before the end of the congress rule
it was given up.
The D.M.K. revived it and vowed to implement on a large scale.
The expenditure for this programme was expected to be one crore per annum.
This was meted out contributions from the public. This free eye camp
commenced on June 3, 1972, on the occasion of the celebration of the 49th
Birthday of the Chief Minister, Karunanidhi. The Chief Minister’s Eye Camp
Fund was for purpose of giving free eye treatment and spectacles to needy.
Initially the money collected from public nations amounted to Nine Lakhs of
rupees. It was deposited in a special account opened in Reserve Bank of India,
Madras.
A sizeable contribution was made by A.M. Ramaswamy the then
sheriff of Madras, he donated Rs.5 Lakhs, the remaining Rs.4 lakhs was collected
from the public which included the Chief Minister’s own contribution Rs.25,000
with further donation, the amount swelled to Rs.25 lakhs.
For this scheme five mobile units were used, two in Madras and three at
Madurai. Each mobile unit was allotted specified areas and each unit was
expected to camp at two places, every month. Each Mobile unit was provided
with bus and two jeeps, and other medical paraphernalia worth about one lakh.
The medical team consisted of a Head Surgeon, our assistant Surgeons, twenty
nurses, one head nurse and a Medical attended. Every unit was expected to
conduct at least five hundred operations in each Camp.
Within a period of one
year, ninety four eye camps have been conducted at a total cost of Rs.26 lakhs
through out the cate. Under the free eye camp scheme, a hospital was set up at
C.S.S.W.Mill Marriage Hall at Coimbatore on September 4, 1972 and this camp
was continued for six months. At Trichy Government General Hospital, a free
camp was organized from October 21, 1972. From the commencement till Day
31, 1973, a total of 2,93,653 patients were treated, about 44,681 cataract
operations were performed, 43,260 tacles were issued to the patients.
A record was set at akudi in Tiruchi district. 1,215 operations were formed in single day
due to the help rendered by the unit of women’s association, Lions Club and the
local ege.
As part of the programme, the collector of Thanjavur, Nambiar,
formulated a detailed plan to cover 100% cataract patients in Tanjore district.
Under the initially about 250 basic workers were trained to the cataract patients
by door to door visit. These workers were to visit all the localities and identify
the cataract patients. About 42,039 peple were benefited till each 1974.
The Government proposed to conduct eye camps for a period of five
years. All the districts were to be ered in 1974-75.
To monitor the working of
this scheme advisory committee was formed to administer and advice of
government.
The Committee was to be headed by the hister of Health and the
other members were Secretary of health and Family planning Department and
Director of Education.
The Director of Health and Family planning was placed
in overall charge of the eye camp while the Director of Medical Education was
asked to render necessary assistance for conducting the camp. Dr. G.
Venkataswamy, the Vice-Principal and professor of Opthalmaology, Madurai
Medical College, Madurai headed one team. The other team was headed by
another eminent eye specialist Dr. J.E. Abraham, Superintendent, Government
Opthalmic Hospital, Madras.
The Camps conducted before D.M.K. came to power were at few centres.
A small number of people alone benefited.
During the D.M.K. rule, the camps
were conducted throughout Tamil Nadu, and within four years (1971-1975)
nearly 7 lakhs of people benefited. With a view to help the poor, the eye camps
were organized mostly in interior villages, with the Co-operation of voluntary
agencies, and public as well as the developmental departmental of the Tamil
Nadu Government. Boarding and lodging facilities were given freely for the
patients in these Camps. The Table below shows the details regarding eye
Camps.
TABLE – X
SL.No. ITEMS TOTAL
1. Number of free Eye Camps conducted 270
2. Number of beneficiaries under the Free
Eye Camp Scheme.
7,00,000
3. Number of Cataract operations performed. 1,20,727
4. Number of free spectacles provided. 1,02,727
5. Number treated for Night blindness. 85,085
6. Minor Operations 2,508
Initially the studies revealed that about 3% of the population in Tamil
Nadu, suffered from serious eye ailments like Glaucoma. Normally those
effected were above fifty.
Due to lack of medical aid, these ailments which could have been cured
normally developed until the patients totally dependent on the others in the
family, and they were considered a burden. The above free eye camp scheme
benefited about 7 lakhs poor people and helped them to be independent,
productive members of the society
தொடரும்
ஏழைகளுக்கு இலவச மருத்துவ உதவியும் இலவச கண் சிகிச்சை முகாம்களும் பகுதி (5)
Schemes for the Welfare of the Handicapped
The State Social Welfare Board came into existence in 1954. The
Directorate of Women’s Welfare was formed in 1955. All the above two
agencies were combined to form the Department of women’s Welfare in 1961.
In the year 1972, the Department of Women’s Welfare was redesignated
as the Department of Social Welfare by expanding its scope to cover various
activities such as the Nutrition’s Meal Programme for pre-School children,
programme for care of nursing mothers, and the Home for Beggars. The same
department was also asked to undertake various welfare measures for the
physically handicapped.
In the year 1974 a survey of physically handicapped was undertaken to
gather relevant details and to introduce various welfare measures. The total
number of handicapped persons was estimated to be 2,351 lakhs. This included
1.15 lakh orthopaedically handicapped, 72,745 Deaf, mutes and 46,118 Blind.
This survey enabled the government to devise rehabilitation scheme to help the
physically handicapped.
A state Board was organized for studying the problems of the
handicapped from all aspects and for rendering suitable assistance to all those
already engaged in this cause and to give direct help in all deserving cases.
The Minister for Social Welfare was made the chairman of the Board.
The
Boards functions were as follows:
1. To identify the difficulties in extending rehabilitation or service to the
physically handicapped in TamilNadu.
2. To improve the state of Physically handicapped in consultation with the
State Government and to plan and execute various programmes to
improve the state of the physically handicapped through medical,
vocational and social rehabilitation.
3. To identify the employment opportunities and to place the handicapped in
suitable employement.
4. To extend aid to individuals / associations / organizations which were
working for the development and welfare of the handicapped in the State.
5. Similarly to Co-ordinate the Board’s activities with those of the
Rehabilitations centres so as to enable them to successfully carry out their
programmes.
The fund allocated for the physically handicapped was administered by
the chairman, namely the Minister for Social Welfare. Fourteen schemes were
formulated for the welfare of the handicapped.
These schemes can be
classified into four categories.
They were :
1. Schemes for the age group of 6-16 years.
2. Schemes for the age group of 16-50 years.
3. Schemes for the age group of over 50 years.
4. General schemes.
For those under the 6-16 years of age group, five special schools were
founded for the Deaf and Mute costing about Rs.6 lakhs. Further a centre was to
be opened for training teachers to teach the physically handicapped. For the
above purpose a sum of Rs.3 lakhs was set apart.
The above arrangement
enabled the handicapped children to pursue their education while under
treatment. For the treatment of these handicapped children an amount of Rs.7.5
lakhs was allocated and the schools were attached to the District Headquarters
Hospitals.
In 1974 the Government started schools attached to orthopaedic
centres and District Head quarters Hospitals where children who received
medical treatment could continue their education without break.
The following
government Hospitals have orthopaedic schools attached to them.
1. Government General Hospital, Madras.
2. Government Stanley Hospital, Madras.
3. Government Children Hospital, Madras.
4. Government Royapettah Hospital, Madras.
5. Thanjavur Medical College Hospital, Thanjavur.
6. Tirunelveli Medical College Hospital, Tirunelveli.
7. Madurai Medical College Hospital, Madurai.
8. Coimbatore Medical College Hospital, Coimbatore.
Expenditure for running these schools was borne by the Social Welfare
Department of the Government of Tamil Nadu.
The State Government has subsidised the cost of limbfitting with the intention of making rehabilitation
accessible even to the poor and had spent Rs.45,000 every year.
For those in the age group of 16-50 years apprentice schemes were
envisaged. The trainees were to be recruited as apprentices in selected
departments like Transport Department, Government Transport Corporation, the
Stationery ant Printing Department, Tamil Nadu Small Scale Industries
Corporation and Khadi and Village Industries Boards.
An allowance of Rs.50/-
per trainee per month was paid for a period of six months Subsequently these
apprentices were to be absorbed on permanent basis in the respective
departments and undertakings. The total fund provided for the scheme was Rs.3
lakhs.
Establishment of training cum production workshop to provide
employment for 150 physically handicapped persons at a cost of Rs.10 lakhs on
the Madras Mahabalipuram Highways was another measure.
Under this
programme a training cum production workshop to cater to 150 physically
handicapped persons was proposed to be established at Muttukadu in 1975.
In the year 1975, seventy five physically handicapped candidates were trained in
three batches and were employed in the workshop itself in the manufacture and
fabrication of steel products.
Further, the government spent
Rs.25 lakhs as against Rs.10 lakhs in production work in light engineering, structural work and machine components commenced at Muttukadu.
Further about seventeen wheel chairs, ninety eight tricycles, one hundred and
thirteen healing aids, and ninety four aluminium crutches were distributed.
Provision was made for training about 5000 physically handicapped
persons for employment in labour intensive industries. They were to be trained in
the following labour intensive occupations
(a) Match making (b) Beedimaking
(c) Handlooms and (d) Hosiery. A stipend of Rs.30/- per month was to be paid.
The fund allotted for the above scheme was Rs.5 lakhs during the year 1974-75.
The handicapped women were also trained in cloth weaving, mat weaving
and handloom weaving.
Secretarial Courses **
To benefit the orthopaedically handicapped and the Deaf and Mutes who
had passed the S.S.L.C. examination, twenty centres were proposed to be
established to impart training in typewriting and shorthand at a cost of Rs.8.80
lakhs. Each trainee was to be paid thirty rupees per month as stipend.
This
scheme was to benefit four hundred candidates in 1974-75. Further, at Stree Seva
Mandir, orthopaedically handicapped women were given training in typewriting
and shorthand at the cost of the government.
Tailoring Centres**
An amount of Rs.5,47,700 was allocated for the opening of twenty
tailoring centres for the orthopaedically handicapped and the Deaf-Mutes.
A monthly stipend of Rs.30.00 was to be paid for the trainees. Deaf girls were also
trained in Doll making, embroidery and dress making. Blind girls were trained in
mat-weaving and handloom weaving.
Training in the verification and sorting out of Punch Cards of computers
for four months in Data processing Centre, Madras was given to the
orthopaedically handicapped and Deaf-Mutes, with a stipend of Rs.50/- per
month.
The total fund allotted for this purpose was eighty thousand.
The government wanted to preferentially reserve certain posts like lift
operators for the physically handicapped.
Special Employment Exchange were proposed to be opened, both in
Madras and in other Districts. The special employment exchanges were created
in 1962, but were made more effective during the D.M.K. period.
The
various activities of the special employment exchanges include culling out of
vacancies and bringing them to the notice and sponsoring the most suitable
registrants for employers' consideration.
Follow up actions like motivating the
employers and indentifying suitable job openings where the disabled persons can be productively employed by conducting job studies and job analysis. Further,
some schemes like the following have been devised;
1. Assistance in formation of Co-operative societies by the physically
handicapped for self-employment eg., the Co- operative society for the
Blind.
2. Establishment of a Book Binding Training Centre on December 7, 1972
for the physically handicapped inside the Madras Museum under the
direct supervision of the Special Employment Exchange.
3. Free Medical examination to the candidates selected for the posts in
Group 'C' and 'D' cadres in Government offices. .
4. The Special Employment Exchange in Madras assisted interested disabled
youth to benefit themselves under the massive Bank Stall scheme by
recommending such course to the Director of Social Welfare.
5. Recommending the deserving and qualified handicapped individuals to
Revenue authorities for grants of old age pension.
For the benefit of the orthopaedically handicapped, manufacture of
artificial limbs were being carried out at the following places:
1. The Government General Hospital., Madras.
2. The Government Erskine Hospital, Madurai.
3. Coimbatore Headquarter's Hospital, Coimbatore.
4. Raja Mirasdar Hospital, Tanjore.
The table below shows the Performance of Special Employment
Exchanges in Tamil Nadu.
Period
Number of
candidates
Registered
No. of Persons
placed in
Employment
Number on the live
Register
1967 X X X
1968 - 69 576 170 607
1969 - 70 548 179 764
1970 - 71 557 166 854
1971 - 72 562 136 1032
1972 - 73 531 102 1050
1973 - 74 765 188 1471
1974 - 75 1310 226 2319
1975 - 76 1148 320 2607
About 23% of the total population of the physically handicapped were in
the age group of above fifty. The only welfare measure that could be
implemented for that age group was the old age pension scheme.
The former
pension grant which had been granted earlier was increased to one hundred and
fifty lakhs rupees in the year 1974-75.
This old age Pension scheme for the
destitute and handicapped beggars was carted as early as 1962. This scheme was
modified in the ear 1974 to extend the benefit to the physically handicapped.
Those with disability of 50% or more are antitled to the pension. The age limit
was reduced from 60 to 55 years. The Government reserved 10,000 beneficiaries
exclusively for the physically handicapped.
Tamil Nadu was the first state to start an Artificial slimb Centre for the rehabilitation of the physically handicapped. One centre had already been started
by the Government of India at Pune in 1944.
In 1963 an Artificial slimb
Centre was started as part of the Orthopaedic Department of the
'Government General Hospital, Madras.
The Institute of Child Health is
furnished with an orthopaedic Department from 1972, and two clinics
exclusively to treat congenital club foot and polio-Hycites. The
Department attended to all types of Orthopaedic problems in infancy and
childhood. The credit of opening the first hand injury unit in India goes to the
Government of Tamil Nadu.
From the year 1971 a Diploma Course in
Psychological Medicine had been started in Tamil Nadu. During the year 1973,
training in psychiatry was also given to students of Medicine, Nursing, and
Social Work.
A medical officer and a pharmacist were sent continuously to the
rural areas to give psychiatric treatment.
Clinics for the Adolescent were
started in 1971 and it treats 200 children between the age group of 13-18.
Neurosis Clinic had been functioning from 1969. Patients suffering from
neurosis like anxiety, spate, hysteria, obsessive compulsive neurosis etc., were
treated.
There are separate blocks for male, female, children and criminal
lunatics.
The Education of the Blind in Pre-Inciependence period was thoroughly
neglected by the Government. Thirty two schools with a total strength of 1212
existed throughout India in 1944 and 1059 seats were vacant in these schools.
Normally parents neglected the education of their blind children. The Tamil
Nadu government found that the existing schools for the blind were not enough.
so a provision of 80 Rs.3, lakhs was proposed for this purpose.
As per the
programme these schools were opened at Chingleput, Coonoor and
Chidambaram in 1975-76.153 Government's concern for the education of the
handicapped was extended to other fields also as explained above. It included
medical treatment and employment. For Medical treatment, Glaucoma Clinics
and Orthopaedic Clinics were started for correction of squint eyes and treatment
of muscle imbalance in 1967. The third 82 operation theatre was opened in
1968.
Further, a new out-patient block was started with theatre, auditorium,
bacteriological, pathological and biochemical laboratories at the Madras Eye
Hospital. These cost the government about Rs.18.75 lakhs. For the disabled
who continued with their collegiate education, the government contributed
Rs.72,200 in the form of scholarships in 1973-74, Rs.74,000 in 1974-75 and
Rs.68,010 in 1975-76.
Two more blind schools were opened at Tiruvarur and
Nagercoil in 1975. The government appointed four blind persons as Lecturers in
the colleges during 1974. This was considered to be one of the means of rehabilitating the blind. The Government's intention was to encourage blind
graduates after reviewing the performance of the four lecturers.
Thus the Government's efforts to secure the welfare of the disabled did
not stop with formal educational institutions, rehabilitation homes and
providing medical care. It also created employment opportunities in respect of
recruitment to State Government vacancies in Grade III, priority being accorded
to the physically handicapped.156
State awards were also given for the best
employees and employers of the handicapped.
These awards were introduced in
1971 to encourage both the physically handicapped and the people who were in a
position to employ them. By giving recognition to the services rendered by the
physically handicapped, hesitant employers could be convinced of their abilities.
Further, an award was given to outstanding employees of the blind, deaf,
orthopaedically handicapped, mentally retarded and leprosy cured.
Thus the Tamil Nadu government took all steps to see that the physically
handicapped were aided in all fields to encourage them to live a life of
independence, not reduced to a life of drudgery and begging.
ஏழைகளுக்கு இலவச மருத்துவ உதவியும் இலவச கண் சிகிச்சை முகாம்களும்
Free Health Service for the Financially underprivileged
The programme of free eye camps was revived in 1972. Originally it
existed during the congress rule but it was not effectively implemented and the
areas covered were very few and finally even before the end of the congress rule
it was given up.
The D.M.K. revived it and vowed to implement on a large scale.
The expenditure for this programme was expected to be one crore per annum.
This was meted out contributions from the public. This free eye camp
commenced on June 3, 1972, on the occasion of the celebration of the 49th
Birthday of the Chief Minister, Karunanidhi. The Chief Minister’s Eye Camp
Fund was for purpose of giving free eye treatment and spectacles to needy.
Initially the money collected from public nations amounted to Nine Lakhs of
rupees. It was deposited in a special account opened in Reserve Bank of India,
Madras.
A sizeable contribution was made by A.M. Ramaswamy the then
sheriff of Madras, he donated Rs.5 Lakhs, the remaining Rs.4 lakhs was collected
from the public which included the Chief Minister’s own contribution Rs.25,000
with further donation, the amount swelled to Rs.25 lakhs.
For this scheme five mobile units were used, two in Madras and three at
Madurai. Each mobile unit was allotted specified areas and each unit was
expected to camp at two places, every month. Each Mobile unit was provided
with bus and two jeeps, and other medical paraphernalia worth about one lakh.
The medical team consisted of a Head Surgeon, our assistant Surgeons, twenty
nurses, one head nurse and a Medical attended. Every unit was expected to
conduct at least five hundred operations in each Camp.
Within a period of one
year, ninety four eye camps have been conducted at a total cost of Rs.26 lakhs
through out the cate. Under the free eye camp scheme, a hospital was set up at
C.S.S.W.Mill Marriage Hall at Coimbatore on September 4, 1972 and this camp
was continued for six months. At Trichy Government General Hospital, a free
camp was organized from October 21, 1972. From the commencement till Day
31, 1973, a total of 2,93,653 patients were treated, about 44,681 cataract
operations were performed, 43,260 tacles were issued to the patients.
A record was set at akudi in Tiruchi district. 1,215 operations were formed in single day
due to the help rendered by the unit of women’s association, Lions Club and the
local ege.
As part of the programme, the collector of Thanjavur, Nambiar,
formulated a detailed plan to cover 100% cataract patients in Tanjore district.
Under the initially about 250 basic workers were trained to the cataract patients
by door to door visit. These workers were to visit all the localities and identify
the cataract patients. About 42,039 peple were benefited till each 1974.
The Government proposed to conduct eye camps for a period of five
years. All the districts were to be ered in 1974-75.
To monitor the working of
this scheme advisory committee was formed to administer and advice of
government.
The Committee was to be headed by the hister of Health and the
other members were Secretary of health and Family planning Department and
Director of Education.
The Director of Health and Family planning was placed
in overall charge of the eye camp while the Director of Medical Education was
asked to render necessary assistance for conducting the camp. Dr. G.
Venkataswamy, the Vice-Principal and professor of Opthalmaology, Madurai
Medical College, Madurai headed one team. The other team was headed by
another eminent eye specialist Dr. J.E. Abraham, Superintendent, Government
Opthalmic Hospital, Madras.
The Camps conducted before D.M.K. came to power were at few centres.
A small number of people alone benefited.
During the D.M.K. rule, the camps
were conducted throughout Tamil Nadu, and within four years (1971-1975)
nearly 7 lakhs of people benefited. With a view to help the poor, the eye camps
were organized mostly in interior villages, with the Co-operation of voluntary
agencies, and public as well as the developmental departmental of the Tamil
Nadu Government. Boarding and lodging facilities were given freely for the
patients in these Camps. The Table below shows the details regarding eye
Camps.
TABLE – X
SL.No. ITEMS TOTAL
1. Number of free Eye Camps conducted 270
2. Number of beneficiaries under the Free
Eye Camp Scheme.
7,00,000
3. Number of Cataract operations performed. 1,20,727
4. Number of free spectacles provided. 1,02,727
5. Number treated for Night blindness. 85,085
6. Minor Operations 2,508
Initially the studies revealed that about 3% of the population in Tamil
Nadu, suffered from serious eye ailments like Glaucoma. Normally those
effected were above fifty.
Due to lack of medical aid, these ailments which could have been cured
normally developed until the patients totally dependent on the others in the
family, and they were considered a burden. The above free eye camp scheme
benefited about 7 lakhs poor people and helped them to be independent,
productive members of the society
தொடரும்
