One shop in every shopping complex owned by the Chennai Corporation
will be owned and managed by a physically handicapped person, the civic
body announced on Friday. People with more than 40% disability will be
exempted from paying professional tax, a corporation resolution said.
The corporation would implement a 2000 state government order that said, "all complexes owned by municipal corporations should allot one shop on the ground floor to physically handicapped people." Shops should be leased to the handicapped on the same terms as the other shops in the building. It should be ensured that the shop is managed by a physically handicapped person who should be present during working hours.
The corporation also decided to implement a gazette notification issued on September 5, 2012 which says people suffering from not less than 40% disability will be exempted from paying professional tax.
Handicapped organizations though remain sceptical. "Many corporation complexes are in a bad condition. Even if it (shop) is on the ground floor it should have ramps," says Tamil Nadu Handicapped Federation Charitable Trust secretary T K M Deepak. Disability Legislation Unit assistant co-ordinator Smitha Sadasivam says there should be accessible doors, switches at a lower height, grab bars and accessible emergency system. They say the rule should have been implemented in consultation with disabled people.
"They want to shut down bunk shops run by handicapped people. That is not fair," says Deepak. "There are seven categories of disabled. It is not clear which type of handicapped person can access this scheme and who decides," he says. Smitha says one shop in every complex is not adequate as many disabled persons want to start businesses of their own.
The corporation would implement a 2000 state government order that said, "all complexes owned by municipal corporations should allot one shop on the ground floor to physically handicapped people." Shops should be leased to the handicapped on the same terms as the other shops in the building. It should be ensured that the shop is managed by a physically handicapped person who should be present during working hours.
The corporation also decided to implement a gazette notification issued on September 5, 2012 which says people suffering from not less than 40% disability will be exempted from paying professional tax.
Handicapped organizations though remain sceptical. "Many corporation complexes are in a bad condition. Even if it (shop) is on the ground floor it should have ramps," says Tamil Nadu Handicapped Federation Charitable Trust secretary T K M Deepak. Disability Legislation Unit assistant co-ordinator Smitha Sadasivam says there should be accessible doors, switches at a lower height, grab bars and accessible emergency system. They say the rule should have been implemented in consultation with disabled people.
"They want to shut down bunk shops run by handicapped people. That is not fair," says Deepak. "There are seven categories of disabled. It is not clear which type of handicapped person can access this scheme and who decides," he says. Smitha says one shop in every complex is not adequate as many disabled persons want to start businesses of their own.
Source : T.O.I ( 27th April 2013 )
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