Chennai:
In a move aimed at benefitting the differently-abled people, Tamil Nadu government has planned to amend the Urban Local Bodies Acts to exempt them from the payment of professional tax.
Tamil Nadu Minister for Municipal Administration and Rural Development KP Munusamy introduced a bill to further amend the laws relating to the Municipal Corporations and Municipalities in the state.
The statement of objects and reasons in the bill stated that at present, differently-abled people with total disabilities in one or both hands or legs, spastics, totally dumb or deaf persons or totally blind persons alone are exempted from the payment of professional tax.
It said that in the absence of a specific definition of disability in the Acts, all the differently-abled people are not in a position to avail the benefit.
"The government has therefore decided that all the differently-abled people shall be exempted from the payment of professional tax," it said.
In order to achieve the same, the government has decided to amend the Urban Local Bodies Acts so as to exempt the persons with disability as defined in the Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act, 1995 (Central Act I of 1996) and also dumb persons from the tax of profession.
Through another bill which was introduced, the Minister said that the government has decided to ensure a barrier-free environment for the differently-abled people by providing special facilities like ramps in the multi-storeyed and public buildings.