27-07-2025
Over 10,000 people with disabilities newly identified in Coimbatore
Over 10,000 people with disabilities have been identified in Coimbatore district through a door-to-door survey being conducted as part of the Tamil Nadu RIGHTS (Rehabilitation, Inclusion, Governance, Holistic Empowerment, and Transformation for Social Change) Project.
The initiative, which began in June this year, is being implemented by the District Differently Abled Welfare Office in coordination with the project team.
A total of 193 community rehabilitation workers and facilitators have been deployed to collect data from households across the district. The survey, based on a 77-point questionnaire, gathers information on the type and degree of disability, educational and employment background, and access to government support.
According to P. Sundareswaran, Project Officer for the T.N. RIGHTS Project in Coimbatore, 10,268 individuals have been newly identified so far. While official records list around 24,568 persons with disabilities in the district, the actual number is expected to be higher.
'Our challenge is identifying individuals who have not disclosed their disabilities due to stigma or lack of awareness,' Mr. Sundareswaran said. 'Some have acquired disabilities due to accidents but have not come forward to seek support. We are addressing this through focused awareness efforts.'
The data will be used to update the Social Registry Enrolment, link eligible individuals to government schemes, and support future policy planning. According to officials, around 33% of the survey has been completed so far. Once the exercise concludes—expected by the end of September 2025—medical camps will be organised to assess individuals and issue disability certificates.
