Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar light the lamp with differently-abled girls during an event to raise awareness about disability.
Credit: PTI Photo
Bengaluru: As the differently abled persons concluded the second day of protest against the Rs 43 crore (80 per cent) reduction in funding for aids and appliances, the state government issued an order promising to release Rs 3 crore on Tuesday evening.
The allocation for the Department for Empowerment of Differently Abled and Senior Citizens has been reduced to Rs 10 crore from last year's Rs 53 crore. This has affected thousands of differently abled people waiting for hearing aids, crutches, braille kits, talking laptops and other appliances. Under the banner of the National Federation of the Blind, the differently abled have been demanding restoration and enhancement of the allocation.
In its order dated December 2, the Finance Department didn't talk about the gap of Rs 43 crore. Instead, it said Rs 3 crore will be released under the head of 'aids and appliances for the disabled' talking laptop (Rs 2.7 crore) and hearing aids (Rs 30 lakh).
"The shortage is Rs 43 crore but the government has released just Rs 3 crore. The chief minister has assured us of providing additional funds (Rs 44 crore) in the supplementary budget. However, it is still an assurance," a convenor said.
Gautam Agarwal, general secretary of the federation's Karnataka chapter, said the protesters were not satisfied by the "mere promises". "The federation has decided not to call off the protest and restart it after a short break of a few days," he said..
Protest in Delhi
Meanwhile, the national leadership of the Federation of the Blind will launch a protest before the Indian National Congress office in New Delhi on Wednesday. "An attempt will be made to seek an audience with the Congress high command. If that's not granted, the protest will begin by evening," a member of the federation said.