The Madras High Court on Monday directed the State government to ensure that the visually challenged were not put to any hardship and subjected to unnecessary formalities just because the monthly pension scheme for them was being implemented through the Social Welfare Department and not the department for the welfare of the differently abled.
Acting Chief Justice M. Duraiswamy and Justice Sunder Mohan issued the direction while disposing of a public interest litigation petition filed by Nethrodaya, a non-governmental organisation working for the welfare of the differently abled, in 2018 seeking a direction to shift the pension scheme form the Social Welfare Department on the ground of hardship.
Though the petitioner organisation had also sought another direction to increase the quantum of pension given to the visually challenged from ₹1,000 to ₹1,500 (now increased to ₹2,000) as given to the other differently abled people who were incapable of any employment, the Bench refused to issue such a direction.
