A SPECIAL CAMP TO ASSESS DISABLED PERSONS
Posted on: 12/Aug/2010 1:47:37 AM
C. Kamaraj, Collector, inaugurated a special camp to assess disabled persons for the purpose of distribution of guardianship certificates on Tuesday. The camp will assess 1000 persons till Friday. The National Trust Act provides for guardianship for persons with four types of disabilities – mental retardation, cerebral palsy, autism and multiple disabilities. The Collector said that the district administration had also planned to conduct a job mela for the differently abled soon. Mr. Kamaraj said that efforts would be made to start self-help groups for the differently abled persons in all blocks. This would include Mothers of mentally retarded children. Section 14 of the National Trust Act empowers a local-level committee headed by the District Collector to appoint legal guardians for persons with autism, cerebral palsy, mental retardation and multiple disabilities. A parent or relative or any other registered organization can apply for guardianship. They must be over 18 years of age on the date of the application. They must be citizens of India and not of any other country even if they may be persons of Indian origin.
They must be of sound mind and not undergoing treatment for mental disorders. They should not have any record of criminal conviction and generally be persons of good reputation. They should not be themselves dependent on others for their livelihood or destitute themselves. They should not have been declared as insolvent by any court of law.
The camp is being conducted jointly by the Department of Differently Abled Welfare and M. S. Chellamuthu Trust and Research Foundation. K. M. Kanagaraj, District Differently Abled Welfare Officer, and C. Ramasubramanian, State Coordinator, District Mental Health Project, addressed the inaugural session. Guardianship certificates will be distributed during the first week of September.
