The Tamil Nadu government has sought financial assistance from the Centre for its various initiatives involving disabled and senior citizens. These initiatives include setting up of a Rs 112-crore geriatrics research centre, old-age homes and short stay homes for the aged.
Speaking at a state welfare ministers conference in New Delhi on Monday, P Geetha Jeevan, social welfare minister, said the Tamil Nadu government was planning to set up National Centre for Geriatrics Research for providing special treatment and undertaking research regarding old-age ailments in Chennai with the assistance from the Union government.
According to the minister, there are 27 old-age homes run by non-governmental organisation with financial support from the state government. This apart, 49 old-age homes, 17 multiservice centres and six mobile medicare units are run by NGOs with Centre’s grants.
Stating that the state government planned to set up old-age homes in every district, she said as a first step, it would be setting up a model old-age home on 10 acres in Kanchipuram district at a cost of Rs 5 crore.
The state has also set up early intervention centres in all the districts for the hearing impaired and for the children with mental retardation through NGOs. “This has become a successful example of public private partnership”.
Seven homes for mentally retarded adults have also been opened. A monthly maintenance allowance of Rs 500 is being provided to 61,000 persons with mental retardation and severe disability. Besides, a monthly assistance of Rs 500 is being given to those affected by muscular dystrophy.
“We request the Government of India to reimburse this amount to the state government. In addition to the above, the Government of Tamil Nadu has been giving pension to a lakh of destitute physically handicapped persons at a rate of Rs 400 per month,” said the minister.
