RAMANATHAPURAM: The news that the monthly maintenance assistance for the differently-abled, mentally ill and those affected by muscular dystrophy has been increased from `500 to `1,000 has come as a great relief to many families and homes in the State.Parents and caretakers of the differently-abled and mentally ill have thanked Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa for her gesture. “It will be of great help at a time when prices of all commodities are going up,” said family members of the beneficiaries.An official release in Chennai said 76,407 differently-abled people would benefit from the move, entailing an annual expenditure of `6 crore to the exchequer.The new announcement is expected to largely benefit those in Erwadi.The 4gm gold scheme for ‘thirumangalyam’ and the hike in assistance for women graduate and diploma holders from `25,000 to `50,000 have been extended to the differently-abled. Though the government has been evincing interest in the welfare of the mentally ill, many of them still loiter in the district, especially in Ramanathapuram, Erwadi, Rameswaram, Paramakudi and Thiruvadanai. The AIADMK government had taken stern action on private asylums at Erwadi after a fire in an asylum in 2001 killed 28 people.Establishment of satellite centres and disbursal of monthly allowance and equipment for the differently-abled followed soon. But, the mentally ill were still seen wandering on the streets. So, better coordination between the district differently abled welfare office, taluk office and police is necessary to save such people.There have been allegations that during the DMK regime, police refused to cooperate in rescue and rehabilitation of the mentally ill.When a person with mental illness is rescued from the street, it is the duty of the police to complete necessary formalities. If they failed to do that, the court would not permit officials to send the rescued person to the mental hospital in Chennai or to any other home offering care.
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