Two disabled prove their ability

MADURAI: News of the victory of two differently-abled persons from Kanyakumari district in the local body elections has come as a big morale-booster for the disabled in Tamil Nadu. Shibu and Rajan were elected as councillors for ward 16 and 18 of Thoothur panchayat respectively.The duo said their objective in contesting the election was to “uplift the differently-abled people, who are being discriminated in all spheres of life”.Out of 28 differently-abled persons, who contested in the local body election across the State, only Shibu and Rajan emerged victorious.An AIADMK candidate, Rajan secured 1,195 votes against six opponents. Shibu contested as an independent and bagged 968 votes, pushing the Congress nominee to the second place.Disillusioned with the political parties, Shibu contested as an independent. “Not even a single party has addressed the issues of the disabled in Thoothur panchayat,” he said. Commenting on the duo’s triumph, Vice President of Tamil Nadu Handicapped Association, T M N Dhipak said in Chennai that it was a significant moment for the differently-abled people in the entire country. Shibu and Rajan’s victory is proof that the public entrusts a differently-abled person with such arduous tasks.