In a move aimed at benefiting the differently-abled people, the Tamil Nadu government plans to amend the Urban Local Bodies Acts to exempt them from paying professional tax.

Tamil Nadu Minister for Municipal Administration and Rural Development K P Munusamy today introduced in the Assembly a bill to amend the laws relating to municipal corporations and municipalities in the state.

The statement of objects and reasons in the bill stated that at present, differently-abled persons with total disability 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, in the absence of specific definition of disability in the Acts, all the differently-abled persons are not in a position to avail the benefit.

"The government have therefore decided that all differently-abled persons 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 the dumb from the tax of profession.

"The government have therefore decided that all differently-abled persons 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 the dumb from the tax of profession.

Through another bill, which was also introduced, the Minister said, that the government has decided to ensure a barrier-free environment for the differently-abled persons by providing special facilities like ramps in the multi-storey and public buildings. PTI DSJ MS RC