Quality of wheel chairs distributed by govt not good, cry differently abled

Chennai: In a first-of-its kind pilot project, former chief minister J. Jayalalithaa had, in September 2015, announced the distribution of 960 specially designed wheelchairs sanctioned at a budget of Rs 20,000 each, to persons with injuries in their spinal cord.

“When the project was planned, they came to us as we are a society working for the spinal injured persons and we gave our specifications. They formed an expert committee, finalized the tender and it was floated. We looked at minor features, which needed to be incorporated,” said Gnana Bharati, president of the Spinal Injured Persons Association (SIPA).

Following continuous representation by members of the Association and the expert committee, the government issued poor quality low cost wheelchairs, two of which were handed over to beneficiaries by Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami on March 7, he alleged.

Urging the government to ensure that remaining wheelchairs are of good quality, he said, “The matter should be reconsidered by the Chief Minister and he must ensure that wheelchairs worth Rs 20,000, as demanded by the Association, are given to the beneficiaries across the state.”

Earlier, disabled persons would be given wheelchairs costing up to Rs 5,000. However, as the needs of those with spinal injuries are greater, the pilot project was dedicated for their cause.

On February 24, 2016, members of the expert committee reportedly decided to inspect the wheelchairs as nothing further was communicated to them; they found them to be of poor quality. “We gave our representation the very next day and presented eight demands to improve the quality of the wheelchairs,” he said.

On receiving no further notice, they put forth a complaint in the Chief Minister’s special cell, to which they got an unsatisfactory reply and the CM’s cell closed the file. They were unable to present any further complaint.

Following continuous protests by the expert committee on the poor quality of the wheelchairs, the government ensured corrections to the cushion alone. “We were invited, via email, to the Commissioner for Welfare of Differently Abled Persons’ office on January 22, to discuss various issues regarding the wheelchair. However, on arrival, we were shown the final, corrected cushions and an official from the office brought up discussions only about the cushions. We protested and put forth our eight demands again. When the minutes of the meeting were prepared, only the discussion about the cushion was specified,” he said.

The final product, which was handed over to beneficiaries, is of very poor quality, he added. Rejecting the Association’s accusations, an official said, “The Association president was very much a part of the committee to decide the features required for a spinal cord person’s wheelchair. On that basis only did the government decide and through its own official procedure, it worked on the wheelchairs, which were finally certificated by rehabilitation professionals and other authorities.

The government has taken a lot of efforts to provide a very good product for the differently abled in the state. Members of the association had given their suggestions. In India, there is no such cushion available for spinal cord the affected. However, the government designed and fabricated for the welfare of the spinal affected persons - for their comfort.”