Stalin inaugurates centre to provide rehab services to differently-abled persons

PTI Chennai: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin inaugurated the ‘Vizhuthugal–Integrated Service Centre’ to provide health related rehabilitation services for differently- abled persons here on Monday. An initiative of the Department for the Welfare of Differently Abled Persons under the World Bank assisted TN Rights project, Stalin inaugurated the one-stop centre at Kannagi Nagar in Sozhinganallur, the first facility out of the proposed 273 centres across the state.

The TN Rights project aims delivering, “integrated and accessible services tailored to the individual needs of differently- abled persons either in their homes or in specialised vehicles for rehabilitation or in dedicated one stop centres,” a statement said here. According to the government, this is the first time in the country that rehabilitation professionals of special education, optometry, audiology and speech therapy, physiotherapy, occupational therapy and psychological counselling are brought under a single roof to meet the chronic health-related rehabilitation service requirements exclusively for differentlyabled persons. The services in the centre are only available in pre–assigned time slots to the differently-abled persons identified in a field survey held during 2023-24.

Those who wish to access the services will have to approach the community rehabilitation workers of TN Rights project. “This centre has been empanelled under the Chief Minister’s Comprehensive Health Insurance Scheme.” The centre has strategically placed surveillance cameras that ensure safety while protecting privacy and has all its restrooms equipped with panic buzzrs.