Welfare measures for differently-abled

CHENNAI: Social Welfare Minister Selvi Ramajayam on Tuesday announced numerous welfare measures for the differently-abled persons in the State.Replying to the discussion on the demands for grants for her department in the State Assembly, the Minister said Jaws Screen Reading Software would be provided to the visually-impaired students studying Plus-I and Plus-II along with free laptops. This year, as many as 560 visually-impaired students would get laptops. The software would be provided to them at a cost of Rs 44 lakhs.The Minister said hearing aid would be provided to those whose capability to hear was seriously affected. At present, hearing aids are provided to fit in their dress. Cash awards would be presented to those differently-abled students who scored top ranks at the State and district-levels. Rs 35.70 lakh has been earmarked for this purpose.Residential vocational training centres would be established in 20 districts in association with the NGOs at an expenditure of Rs1 crore. The districts are: Tiruvannamalai, Salem, Namakkal, Krishnagiri, the Nilgris, Tiruppur, Karur, Dindigul, Ariyalur, Perambalur, Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Ramanathapuram, Nagapattinam, Theni, Virudhunagar, Pudukottai, Villupuram, Kanyakumari and Cuddalore.The Minister said the ceiling on the number of beneficiaries under the marriage assistance scheme has been lifted. So far, 490 beneficiaries were given assistance this year, and all who apply for this assistance would be given.The Minister said 100 girl students residing in service homes of the Social Welfare department would be given educational assistance to pursue higher studies. Each student would be given Rs 30,000 per annum for degree courses and Rs 50,000 per annum for engineering and other professional courses.