The Honourable Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Thiru M. K. Stalin, today inaugurated ‘Vizhuthugal – One Stop Centre’ established to provide health - related rehabilitation services for Differently Abled Persons, in Kannagi Nagar, Sholinganallur, Chennai.

Nov 26, 2024

Chennai, 25^th November, 2024: The Honorable Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Thiru M.K. Stalin, today (25.11.2024), inaugurated ‘Vizhuthugal – One Stop Centre’ in Kannagi Nagar, Sholinganallur, Chennai. This centre is established by the Department for the Welfare of Differently Abled Persons, under the World Bank - assisted TN RIGHTS Project to provide health - related rehabilitation services for Differently Abled Persons.

The TN RIGHTS Project aims to deliver 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. Accordingly, under the Project, a total of 273 Vizhuthugal – One stop centres are to be established across the length and breadth of the State. Marking the momentous beginning of the project, the Honourable Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Thiru M.K. Stalin, today, inaugurated the first of these Vizhuthugal – One stop centres in Kannagi Nagar, Sholinganallur, Chennai. The Centre will benefit the differently abled persons in Perungudi and Sholinganallur zones of Greater Chennai Corporation. Kannagi Nagar is one of the areas in Chennai, which is facing a lot of social and economic challenges. The Government has consciously chosen Kannagi Nagar to locate the first OSC under TN RIGHTS so as to start by providing services in the area where it is needed the most.

This is the first time in India that the rehabilitation professionals of special education, optometry, audiology & speech therapy, physiotherapy, occupational therapy and psychological counselling are brought under one single roof to meet the chronic health-related rehabilitation service requirements exclusively for the differently abled 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 in 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 buzzers. What truly sets this centre apart is its use of IoT technology fully developed in Tamil Nadu pioneeringly by a Startup – probably a first in India – triggering real-time immediate assistance on remote detection of emergency situations. Refurbished at a cost of ₹ 3.08 crore, the Centre and its premises are fully accessible, taking the implementation of the Union Government’s Harmonized Guidelines 2021 for building design to a totally new level. In another inspiring touch of inclusion, the Centre also houses an Aavin milk booth, run by a differently abled person.

At the time of inauguration, the Honourable Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu Thiru M. K. Stalin interacted with the beneficiaries and their families, reiterating the Government's commitment to their welfare.

The inaugural function was attended by the Honourable Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Thiru M.Subramanian, the Secretary to Government, Department for the Welfare of Differently Abled Persons, Tmt. Sigy Thomas Vaidhyan IAS, the State Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities, Thiru R. Sudhan, IAS (retd), the Director for Welfare of the Differently Abled, Tmt. M. Lakshmi, IAS and Thiru S.Prabhakar, IAS, Managing Director of Tamil Nadu Urban Habitat Development Board and other officials.