<p>As the world observes the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, Karnataka’s differently-abled citizens face a disturbing setback. Instead of recognising the pressing needs of this vulnerable community, the government has slashed the funding for essential support schemes by a staggering 80 per cent. These schemes which include vital aids such as hearing devices, braille kits, and battery-operated wheelchairs, are crucial for ensuring access to education, mobility, and social inclusion. However, in the budget proposals for the current fiscal, the government had reduced the allocation to merely Rs 10 crore from Rs 53 crore last year. This cut is even more alarming given the rising number of persons with disabilities (PwDs) in the state, which has increased significantly since the 2011 census. At a time when costs are rising and inflation is impacting all sections, the government should have been increasing funding, not diminishing it.</p>.Differently abled brave rain to protest against 80% cut in funds.<p>In the current year, over 5,000 applications have been submitted for hearing aids, while 500 visually impaired children have applied for ‘talking laptops’, to aid their education. Yet, the government has provided only a few hundred hearing aids and 35 laptops, leaving a vast majority of applicants without the vital support they need. The National Federation for Blind has rightly condemned the funding as “unjustifiable and unprecedented”. These schemes are not handouts, but essential services that the government is obligated to provide to protect the dignity and rights of one of the most marginalised groups in society. The decision to drastically cut funding sends out a disturbing message that the needs of the differently-abled are being disregarded.</p>.Disability rights: Why words matter.<p>The government’s failure to adequately respond to the requirements of this community is compounded by an unresponsive administration. Chief Minister Siddarmaiah, who also holds the finance portfolio, has failed to address the budget cuts that have directly impacted the community. The differently-abled deserve more than just token gestures. They deserve the same policy-driven support that other marginalised groups, like the Scheduled Castes and Tribes receive through dedicated policies. Unfortunately, this is not the case, as PwDs do not form a strong vote bank. The government’s continued inaction amounts to a betrayal of the differently-abled community’s interests, and a violation of their fundamental rights and dignity. The state must urgently restore the funding and make a firm commitment to the empowerment of the disabled. This is not just a matter of social justice, but also a moral obligation that demands immediate attention and action.</p>
<p>As the world observes the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, Karnataka’s differently-abled citizens face a disturbing setback. Instead of recognising the pressing needs of this vulnerable community, the government has slashed the funding for essential support schemes by a staggering 80 per cent. These schemes which include vital aids such as hearing devices, braille kits, and battery-operated wheelchairs, are crucial for ensuring access to education, mobility, and social inclusion. However, in the budget proposals for the current fiscal, the government had reduced the allocation to merely Rs 10 crore from Rs 53 crore last year. This cut is even more alarming given the rising number of persons with disabilities (PwDs) in the state, which has increased significantly since the 2011 census. At a time when costs are rising and inflation is impacting all sections, the government should have been increasing funding, not diminishing it.</p>.Differently abled brave rain to protest against 80% cut in funds.<p>In the current year, over 5,000 applications have been submitted for hearing aids, while 500 visually impaired children have applied for ‘talking laptops’, to aid their education. Yet, the government has provided only a few hundred hearing aids and 35 laptops, leaving a vast majority of applicants without the vital support they need. The National Federation for Blind has rightly condemned the funding as “unjustifiable and unprecedented”. These schemes are not handouts, but essential services that the government is obligated to provide to protect the dignity and rights of one of the most marginalised groups in society. The decision to drastically cut funding sends out a disturbing message that the needs of the differently-abled are being disregarded.</p>.Disability rights: Why words matter.<p>The government’s failure to adequately respond to the requirements of this community is compounded by an unresponsive administration. Chief Minister Siddarmaiah, who also holds the finance portfolio, has failed to address the budget cuts that have directly impacted the community. The differently-abled deserve more than just token gestures. They deserve the same policy-driven support that other marginalised groups, like the Scheduled Castes and Tribes receive through dedicated policies. Unfortunately, this is not the case, as PwDs do not form a strong vote bank. The government’s continued inaction amounts to a betrayal of the differently-abled community’s interests, and a violation of their fundamental rights and dignity. The state must urgently restore the funding and make a firm commitment to the empowerment of the disabled. This is not just a matter of social justice, but also a moral obligation that demands immediate attention and action.</p>
