CM launches wedding scheme for persons with disabilities in State
The Hindu
Their marriages can be held for free at temples under HR&CE Dept.
Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on Wednesday launched a scheme allowing the free conduct of marriages between persons with disabilities in temples under the purview of the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Department.
Mr. Stalin presented a copy of the Government Order to two persons with disabilities — S. Suresh Kumar and S. Monisha — who had applied to get married at the Sri Parthasarathy Perumal temple in Triplicane. He blessed the couple and gave them gifts during a function held at the Secretariat.
Persons with disabilities will also be allowed to rent kalyana mandapams attached to temples for free. They will only have to pay the service charge. HR&CE Minister P.K. Sekarbabu, Secretary B. Chandra Mohan and Commissioner J. Kumaragurubaran were present at the function.
More than 2.6 lakh village and ward volunteers in Andhra Pradesh, once celebrated as the government’s grassroots champions for their crucial role in implementing welfare schemes, are now in a dilemma after learning that their tenure has not been renewed after August 2023 even though they have been paid honoraria till June 2024. Disowned by both YSRCP, which was in power when they were appointed, and the current ruling TDP, which made a poll promise to double their pay, these former volunteers are ruing the day they signed up for the role which they don’t know if even still exists