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Disabled unions protest as govt. sealed the fate of ‘ARAM GHAR’

Finding fault with the government’s move to wind up ARAM GHAR – A home for Physically Handicapped & Specially Privileged at Rajendranagar, by shifting all the inmates overnight to different old age homes, the member of various disabled organizations held a protest today before the main gate of facility demanding withdrawal of the decision.

The government has closed the facility earlier this week and foisted a banner saying “ARAM GHAR Old Age Home, (under the Indian Council of Social Welfare) fails to follow the provisions laid down under Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007. Hence, it is closed.”

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Holding the placard while protesting before the wound-up facility today, the members of disabl​​ed unions have echoed voices together against the winding up of the facility and demanded the government reinstates the center without delay.

“The move to wind up the facility has miraculously planned to allot the sprawling government land to corporate agencies. These efforts were on for several years and were executed today to suit the intentions. In its pursuit to fill the coffers, the government is not even sparing the facilities meant for disabled people despite the fact that very few of such institutions have left in the outskirts while the city was completely bereft of these centres. If the facilities are lacking, the government may have arranged it instead of winding up the centre. It is not wise enough to burn down the house to smoke out a rat,” said Gorenkala Narsimha, State Honorary President National Platform for Rights of Disabled (NPRD)

“Government has shifted the inmates by accepting that not enough facilities have been provided at the center putting the health and life of the inmates into jeopardy. If the government was sensitive enough towards the welfare of the disabled people, it would have had provided the required facilities at Aram Ghar Center to benefit the inmates instead of shifting them to already overwhelmed old age homes,” argued Mahboob Basha, President Rajendranagar Pattana Vikalangula Samakya.

Spreading in a sprawling area of 16.5 acres of government land on a prime location at Aram Ghar under Rajendrangar, this facility also known as ‘ARAM GHAR’ was actually formed in the year 1962 by an organization led by renowned social activist and farmer Rajya Sabha Member Roda Mistry to champion the cause of mentally challenged people in the undivided state.

Since then the facility is serving for disabled persons especially the mentally retarded people who were disowned by their own families in their senility. However, on 1st June the team of officials from DRDA and Disabled Welfare Hyderabad visited the facility and shifted all the 76 inmates to other old age homes without specifying the reason behind the move to wind up the facility in such a haste.

NPRD Rangareddy District President Ashannagari Bhujanga Reddy, General Secretary Jerconi Raju, District Treasurer D.Raja Shekar Goud, District Vice President Syed Afroz, CITU Rajendranagar Nagar Circle Secretary Kurmaya besides Mandal leaders like Ghattayya, Mohan and Shankar etc took part in today’s protest.

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Meanwhile, the sources said that the facility was ​closed after learning about the pathetic state of the center. “During the official’s recent visit it was fou​​nd that the private management body appointed by the government was not at all serving properly and terribly failed to maintain the health hygiene in the center thereby putting the life of the inmates on to risk. All the 76 inmates were shifted to three different old age homes that include Good Samaritans Old Age Home Medchal, Home for Disabled Shameerpet and St.Alphonsa Karunalayam Budwel,” the sources informed.