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TN RIGHTS census to identify disabled begins in Erode, seven other districts

TN RIGHTS census to identify disabled begins in Erode, seven other districts

COIMBATORE: The TN RIGHTS project, functioning under the Department of Welfare for Differently-Abled Persons, has launched a Social Registry Enrollment (SRE) census to identify persons with disabilities (PWD) in eight additional districts, including Coimbatore, Erode and Salem in the western region.
The state is implementing the TN RIGHTS project, supported by World Bank funds, to strengthen the differently-abled department's ability to promote inclusion, accessibility, and opportunities for people with disabilities. The focus of the project is to enhance social protection systems for them. As part of these efforts, the department is conducting area-wise SRE census to assist the government in improving the management of services for beneficiaries, and the drive was launched on Monday.
This initiative is designed to collect data on disabled people across all blocks, town panchayats, municipalities and Coimbatore corporation. Volunteers will visit every household to identify PWDs.
P Sundareswaran, project officer for TN RIGHTS in Coimbatore district, said they have appointed 200 volunteers who will meet targeted individuals in 20 blocks, with 12 blocks located in rural areas and 4 blocks covering corporation and municipality limits.
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Representation without power is not inclusion. It's illusion
Representation without power is not inclusion. It's illusion

Time of India

time8 hours ago

  • Time of India

Representation without power is not inclusion. It's illusion

If somebody writes an epitaph to Sangita, it should be headlined 'Happy Soul'. Nothing fazes her. No challenge is too big. A fan of James Bond's 'never say die' spirit, just like him she thrives on adrenalin rush as she fields every curveball life throws her way. Sangita is a person with multiple disabilities. A patient of Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA), Sangita is a wheelchair user and hearing aids user. For the past 10 years, she has been whizzing past life in a wheelchair, notching professional milestones. She believes nothing is insurmountable, certainly not limitations imposed by disabilities. Sangita has three decades of experience in the media, content and communications industry across verticals and industries. She has been associated with the development and disability sector and featured in the first Directory of Development Journalists in India published by the PII. She has also functioned as a media representative of the Rehabilitation Council of India and has conducted various S&A programmes for bureaucrats. Sangita is the founder of Ashtavakra Accessibility Solutions Private Limited, a social enterprise dedicated to the inclusion of the disabled. LESS ... MORE In the absence of real power and representation, tokenism can take insidious forms. A stakeholder consultation on a policy paper that becomes just an exercise in photo-op to check the box, awards that glorify and normalise exceptional few as templates for disabled achievement while erasing the systemic barriers faced by the many, accessibility measures that start with a ramp and end in a road that opens on a heavy traffic route with no zebra crossing, no tactile path, no thought for safety… These are not imaginary scenarios but the reality of disability inclusion. Tokenism doesn't just distort the goal of inclusion; it becomes a dangerous substitute for it. And until representation comes with real power, budget, and accountability, the system will continue to applaud itself while failing the very people it claims to uplift. A slogan without power: The illusion of representation So how do we ensure a course correction? 'Nothing about us without us' will remain a slogan unless persons with disabilities (PwDs) find real representation across the spectrum—starting with politics. Without seats at the table, policies designed for disabled people will continue to be made through the lens of charity, not clarity. And if you have your ear to the ground, you'd have heard the rising murmurs from the disabled community: 'We want our rights not charity'. Over 1.3 billion people worldwide live with some form of disability. That's roughly 15% of humanity. Yet, when it comes to elected office, where are the PwDs? The answer is obvious – invisible and ignored. Worse, they are considered unfit to hold office, while inaccessibility of the election process prevents them from even exercising their franchise. It is little wonder then that while many democracies have made gains in gender, racial, and caste inclusion, disability remains the last frontier, rarely prioritized, often ignored. This issue is not just about representation. It's about leadership. It's about missed voices, policy blind spots, and a crisis of democratic legitimacy. For real difference, inclusion must go beyond symbolism and must mean actual power. Representation lags behind: A global snapshot Despite comprising over 15% of the world's population, persons with disabilities (PwDs) have historically been excluded from political power. One of the largest minority groups in the world, PwDs are barely present in elected positions of power in the world. In United Kingdom, only five Members of Parliament (MPs) in 2021 identified as disabled—just 0.8% of the House of Commons. Meanwhile, 21% of the UK population reports having a disability. In the United States, a Rutgers University study found that 10.3% of elected officials at various levels reported a disability, compared to 15.7% of the U.S. population. At higher levels of government, that number drops even further. In the European Union, most EU nations show disability representation in parliament at well below 1%. Despite legal commitments to equality, the reality falls short. While in India, estimates place the number of PwDs in India between 26 and 70 million. Yet, in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, not a single MP declared a disability. A snapshot of disability-inclusive political reforms While the right to vote has seen incremental progress, the right to represent, legislate, and lead has remained elusive. However, over the last three decades, a series of global and national reforms—ranging from legislative quotas and electoral access laws to grassroots political appointments—have begun to challenge this exclusion. These moments signal the slow but necessary evolution from symbolic participation to structural power. Some governments have moved beyond lip service and taken concrete steps to ensure PwDs are not just visible but powerful in politics. Uganda has five reserved parliamentary seats for PwDs and mandates their inclusion in every local council Kenya and Rwanda constitutionally guarantee representation for PwDs in both national and regional assemblies New Zealand enacted the Election Access Fund, reimbursing campaign expenses like interpreters and accessible transport Australia has proposed a federal Election Access Fund of $5 million, modelled on New Zealand's success Role models: Leading despite the odds Against the tide, a small but powerful group of leaders with disabilities have broken through, not just as symbols of resilience but as architects of policy. What sets these leaders apart isn't just that they live with a disability—it's that they bring lived experience to policymaking in ways that non-disabled counterparts often cannot. Tammy Duckworth (USA) is a U.S. Senator and Iraq War veteran who lost both legs in combat. Her legislative legacy is rooted in more than advocacy. She's driven institutional change. She co-authored the 'Access to Congressionally Mandated Reports Act' and has been a consistent voice for accessible healthcare and transportation. Mojo Mathers (New Zealand) became the first Deaf MP in New Zealand's history and instead of simply representing the community, she changed the system. Thanks to her efforts, New Zealand established the Election Access Fund, which reimburses disability-related campaign expenses. Jordon Steele-John (Australia), elected to the Senate at just 23, brought both youth and disability perspectives into Australia's political narrative. A wheelchair user with cerebral palsy, he consistently pushes for intersectional reforms. Crystal Asige (Kenya), who lost her sight as an adult, has transformed her personal experience into legislative action. As a nominated senator, she has driven legal reforms including caregiver tax relief, inclusive education funding, and digital accessibility. Systemic exclusion This underrepresentation is not coincidental—it's systemic. The barriers to political representation are structural, legal, and cultural. Let us find out how each of these barriers is a roadblock in political representation of the PwD. Physical and infrastructural inaccessibility: Politics is conducted in public spaces. Unfortunately, most offices, campaign trails, legislative halls are often inaccessible. In many countries, including India, basic features like ramps, accessible transport, and adaptive technology are still missing. Financial exclusion: Running for office is expensive. For PwD candidates, it's even more costly because they need assistive technology, personal aides, interpreters, and accessible communication methods, a financial burden few can bear in this game of dice. Few countries offer financial support to cover these disability-related campaign costs. Legal and institutional gaps: While many nations have quotas for gender or caste representation, legal frameworks mandating political inclusion of PwDs are rare. India has no national-level reservation or requirement to include PwDs in legislatures. Social and media bias: The framing of PwDs by media as either tragic figures or inspirational stories has ensured that they are not seen as serious political actors. Public perception still sees disability as a deficit, not a dimension of diversity. Together, these barriers create a cycle of exclusion that keeps political doors closed to a significant portion of the population. Source: Secondary research [To be continued in Part 2: 'From Symbol to Power: A New Chapter in Disability Representation'] In Part 2, we explore how India's disability rights movement evolved, highlight state-level breakthroughs in Chhattisgarh and Tamil Nadu, and present what real inclusion could look like—from the grassroots to Parliament. Facebook Twitter Linkedin Email Disclaimer Views expressed above are the author's own.

TNTET notification 2025 out at trb.tn.gov.in; apply till September 8
TNTET notification 2025 out at trb.tn.gov.in; apply till September 8

Scroll.in

time2 days ago

  • Scroll.in

TNTET notification 2025 out at trb.tn.gov.in; apply till September 8

The application window for the Tamil Nadu Teacher Eligibility Test (TNTET 2025) has opened on the official website Applicants can register till September 8, 2025. The application correction window will open from September 9 to 11, 2025. TNTET Paper I and Paper II are likely to be conducted on November 1 and 2, respectively. Applicants should have attained the age of 18 years as on July 1, 2025. There's no upper age limit. Candidates should have passed Higher Secondary (or its equivalent) with at least 50% marks and passed or appearing in the final year of 2-year Diploma in Elementary Education. More details in the notification below: Here's the official notice. Application Fee The Examination fee is Rs 600 for all candidates except SC, SCA, ST, and Differently Abled Persons. For SC, SCA, ST, and Differently Abled Persons, the examination fee for each application is Rs 300. Steps to register for TNTET 2025

Ludhiana: ₹48 cr down in drain; 66 water tanks lying defunct
Ludhiana: ₹48 cr down in drain; 66 water tanks lying defunct

Hindustan Times

time3 days ago

  • Hindustan Times

Ludhiana: ₹48 cr down in drain; 66 water tanks lying defunct

Despite a staggering investment of approximately ₹48 crore over the years, Ludhiana is grappling with a severe water crisis, with as many as 66 overhead water reservoirs lying non-functional across the city. These structures, originally built to ensure a steady supply of drinking water, have remained unused for several years, becoming monuments to civic neglect and mismanagement. The scale of the problem was recently highlighted in a survey conducted by a team from the World Bank as part of the preparations for the city's ambitious 24x7 water supply project. The survey identified the 66 defunct reservoirs and proposed the construction of 136 new ones. A non-functional overhead water reservoir in BRS Nagar, Ludhiana, on Sunday. (Manish/HT) The reasons behind this widespread failure are a mix of systemic and maintenance issues. An earlier audit revealed that despite the substantial expenditure, not a single one of these reservoirs was operational. The causes range from the dilapidated condition of old structures and inadequate pipeline networks to recurring pumping problems and poor maintenance. Giaspura Flats among worst hit The municipal corporation (MC) now plans to address this monumental failure under the new World Bank-funded project. The strategy involves a two-pronged approach: rehabilitating the 66 non-functional reservoirs and constructing the remaining 70 afresh. The success of this project, however, hinges on the MC's ability to not only build new infrastructure but also to effectively revive and manage the existing defunct tanks. This is a crucial point, as residents and civic activists remain deeply skeptical, given the MC's track record. The frustration is particularly acute in areas like Giaspura Flats, where a brand-new water tank, constructed just a few years ago, has never supplied a single drop of water. 'We live on the sixth floor, and sometimes even the eighth-floor residents have to carry buckets from the ground floor. The tank is right here, but it's just for show,' lamented Jaspreet Kaur, a local resident. 'When we ask MC officials, they blame the pipelines or say the pumps are not working. What's the use of spending lakhs on building it if it can't give us a single drop?' Another resident, Gurmeet Singh, voiced his outrage, highlighting the financial burden on citizens. 'We pay water charges, but still have to depend on private tankers. This is a sheer waste of public money. If the MC cannot maintain these tanks, how will they run 136 new ones?' Civic activist Rajinder Sharma has also questioned the MC's planning and accountability. 'This is not just about one or two tanks, it's about the entire system. ₹48 crore has already gone down the drain. Unless the MC takes strict monitoring measures, the World Bank project could also end up the same way.' Some defunct structures are ageing,say officials Officials, including chief officer Ravinder Garg, have acknowledged the issue. 'Overhead water reservoirs are presently non-functional due to old structures,' he stated, adding that 'recently built overheads which are non-operational will be rectified soon.' He promised that rehabilitation work would begin promptly after the survey. The stated goal is to make the existing reservoirs operational before the new ones are constructed, a promise that many find hard to believe given the history of failed projects. The path to uninterrupted water supply in Ludhiana is paved with both hope and considerable doubt.

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