Covid-19 | Prioritise persons with disabilities, says Social Justice Ministry
The Hindu
Health authorities at State/Union Territory asked to make sure “special provisions” were made at testing, vaccination and treatment centres for PwD
After receiving a complaint that persons with disabilities (PwD) were being made to wait for COVID-19 testing, treatment and vaccination, the Social Justice and Empowerment Ministry on Thursday asked the Health and Family Welfare Ministry to ensure PwD are given priority. The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 mandates that PwD are given priority when it comes to medical attention and treatment, something which the Department of Empowerment of PwD (DEPwD) reiterated in its letter to the Health Ministry. The DEPwD said it had received a representation from the National Federation of the Blind, Delhi on April 22 “alleging that PwDs including persons with visual impairments have to stand in long queue for the purpose of testing, vaccination and treatment for COVID-19 induced ailments”.More Related News
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