Raghavulu criticises CM for eligibility rider

• Says it will pave way for gradation among physically challenged
• Demands Rs 2,000 pension for all without any conditions

Hyderabad: The rider, announced by Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy, that only those with severe disabilities would be eligible for the Rs 500 hike in pension for differently-abled persons, came in for sharp criticism from different quarters as it would pave way for gradation of disabled persons. At a gtate government organised function on World Disabled Day on Tuesday, Kiran Reddy assured the gathering that the pension would be enhanced from Rs 500 to Rs 1000 per month. But, this will would applicable to only those with severe disability.

Questioning the logic behind the pension hike, CPM state secretary, BV Raghavulu demanded that the government consider paying Rs 2,000 per month as pension for all the handicapped without putting any conditions or taking the degree of disability into consideration. Chairing a meeting of the National Platform for the Rights of the Disabled (NPRD) at the Basheerbagh Press Club, Raghavulu condemned the arrest of some 30 activists of the organisation for going on a Satyagraha at Buddha statue, Tankbund, on Monday. He wondered if the Chief Minister had cleared one single case of disabled persons out of the 4 lakh applications cleared during his Rachabanda programme. He asked why the Chief Minister had failed to make it a top priority the processing of differently-abled persons land applications.

Sujala, a visually impaired girl, who received a prize from Raghavulu, made the hearts of the audience heavy when she described how parents were disowning children born with disabilities and how people like were left to the mercy of government hostels. She questioned why politicians talk about the disabled just for a day in the entire year. She also asked why nobody was talking about giving jobs to them.