'Provide benefits to specially abled directly'

State Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities V S Basavaraju instructed the officials concerned to provide necessary facilities to specially abled directly.

Speaking during a meeting at Old Fort Hall in Madikeri, he said that special toilets should be constructed for physically challenged children at schools and hostels.

V S Basavaraju said, “The physically challenged children should be directly admitted to Morarji Desai schools.”

Free bus passes have been distributed by KSRTC to 624 physically challenged students. The government will implement programmes through the tourism department and build special rooms for physically challenged tourists visiting the district. The physically challenged can avail subsidy for dairy farming and poultry.

Responding to the grievances by physically challenged persons at the meeting, Basavaraju said that the banks should provide loans to the eligible. If the loan applications are rejected, the banks should furnish reasons for the rejection.

If non-eligible persons are found misusing the facilities meant for physically challenged, appropriate legal action will be initiated against the wrongdoers, said Basavaraju.

Deputy Commissioner Annies Kanmani Joy, Superintendent of Police Dr Suman D Pennekar and Zilla Panchayat Chief Executive Officer K Lakshmi Priya were present at the meeting.