| The Hindu, Thursday, Nov 30, 2006 |
| A.P. Shah urges private sector to implement Disability Act |
| Special Correspondent |
| Says the physically challenged need acceptance and not sympathy |
 RECOGNITION: Madras High Court Chief Justice A.P. Shah (third from left) presenting the `Champion of Humanity' award of the Hindustan Chamber of Commerce to S.S. Badrinath, president and chairman of the Medical Research Foundation, in Chennai on Wedn esday. The other recipient of the award, K.S. Narayanan, and Chamber president G. Subramanian are also in the picture. — Photo: R. Ragu |
| CHENNAI: Madras High Court Chief Justice A.P. Shah on Wednesday stressed the need for the private sector to implement the Disability Act that provides for reservation in employment to the physically challenged. |
| Noting that its implementation now was "only confined to the government [departments] and public [sector undertakings]," he urged the private sector to follow suit, as the disabled needed "acceptance and not sympathy." |
| At the diamond jubilee celebrations and the chamber day of the Hindustan Chamber of Commerce, he presented the chamber's `Champion of Humanity Award 2006' to K.S. Narayanan, chairman-emeritus of Chemplast Sanmar Limited, and S.S. Badrinath, president and chairman, Medical Research Foundation, and described the recipients as "two great sons of Tamil Nadu." |
| "Privatised public institutions" |
| In his acceptance speech, Dr. Badrinath urged the industry to help to establish "privatised public institutions" that functioned on the lines of the private sector but provided medical care at an affordable cost to the people and free of charge to the needy. |
| It could also adopt primary health centres and create facilities for those coming to the State from others parts of the country for medical treatment. |
| Reading out the speech of Mr. Narayanan, his grandson Vijay Sankar underlined the significance of sticking to ethics and transparency. Highlighting the role of the chamber, he said trade and industry found in it a strong ally. |
| M. Balaji, chairman of the diamond jubilee celebrations committee, detailed the growth of the chamber since its formation in November 1945. Chamber president G. Subramanian said the function was to mark the conclusion of the diamond jubilee celebrations of the body, whose motto is "progress through enterprise." |
