Some demands of visually challenged conceded Staff Reporter
Chief Minister promises to consider others - Photo: K.V. Srinivasan LENDING AN EAR: Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi with representatives of visually challenged persons at the Secretariat in Chennai on Sunday. CHENNAI: The State Government has agreed to reserve 35 B. Ed seats in seven government colleges for visually impaired from the next academic year. This was announced after representatives of College Students and Graduate Association of the Blind (CSGAB) met Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi at the Secretariat here on Sunday. The other demands, conceded by the Government, include increase in educational and readers' scholarship, waiver of tuition and examination fee and providing an additional hour for visually challenged students in examinations. The Chief Minister will ask universities to follow the Government Order issued to this effect. According to a press release, the Chief Minister told the representatives that the demand for two per cent reservation in graduate teachers' vacancies would be considered after consultations with the School Education department. Travel concession in government buses across the State would also be considered after consultation with the Transport department. The State Government agreed to consider the other demands after scrutiny in a phased manner. After the meeting, R. Muniappan CSGAB president thanked the Chief Minister for considering their demands favourably. He said the Chief Minister had agreed to look in to other demands in a month. "In the hope that the Government will fulfil all assurances, we have decided to call off the stir," Mr. Muniappan said. Student groups and activists for the visually impaired have been urging the State government to consider their 15-point charter of demands for the past five days through demonstrations across the State. On Saturday, Social Welfare Minister Poongothai Aladi Aruna met association representatives and agreed to arrange a meeting with the Chief Minister. Regards, Vishal Jain. Ph: 080-41140564 Website: http://vishal.hello.googlepages.com To unsubscribe send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the subject unsubscribe. To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other changes, please visit the list home page at http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org.in
