: Aiming to have homes for mentally challenged persons in all 32 districts, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa today announced opening homes for them in 21 districts and homes for mentally retarded in 11 districts.
Making a suo motu statement in the Assembly, Jayalalithaa referred to the existing government subsidy of Rs 1.06 crore per annum given to NGOs running homes for mentally challenged in 11 districts - Tiruvallur, Cuddalore, Tiruvarur, Tuticorin, Ramanathapuram, Coimbatore, Erode, Tiruchirappalli, Salem, Vellore and Madurai.
"In order to avoid mentally challenged persons from other districts being taken to homes in these districts, homes would be opened in the remaining 21 districts. It would cost Rs 1.92 crore per annum for the state exchequer," she said.
Likewise, in addition to the 31 homes for mentally retarded persons above 14 years of age in 21 districts,11 more homes would be opened in the remaining districts, she said.
While Dharmapuri, Karur, Nagapattinam, Perambalur, Pudukkottai and Tiruvarur districts would have new homes for men, Virudhunagar, Ariyalur, Tiruppur, Nilgiris and Villupuram districts would have homes for women, she said, adding the expansion would cost the state exchequer Rs 1.06 crore annually.
The Chief Minister also expanded the subsidy for food for day scholars, in addition to those in hostels of government run and government aided special schools.
The scheme, which is expected to benefit over 1,733 students, would cost the state exchequer a sum of Rs 38.99 lakh, the Chief Minister added.
