Proposal to turn unused government buildings into homes for disabled elderly

The Commissioner for Differently Abled in Tamil Nadu has proposed to the state government that un-utilised government buildings in different parts of the state be used as homes for senior citizens with disabilities.

Arun Roy, who is the Commissioner for the Differently Abled in Tamil Nadu, has said that there are many government buildings that are left vacant because they are expanding offices to other buildings.

The proposal to turn these buildings into homes for the disabled was made at a meeting between the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment and Tamil Nadu officials. Funds from the central government will be used to renovate these buildings. They will be handed over to an organization registered under the Gharaunda trust.

Gharaunda is a central scheme under which NGOs registered under The National Trust can source up to Rs three lakh from the Centre to set up homes for adults with autism, cerebral palsy, and multiple disabilities who require long-term care. The government also gives Rs 1,000 per month for each person residing in these homes.