A thirty-year-old woman has petitioned the District Collector Archana Patnaik to recommend the state government to provide her with a petty shop near her residence, on Monday.

The petitioner, V. Vennila from Agathinagar in Kallar, lost the ability to walk after a bout of polio at a very young age. She is looked after by her mother, who works as a daily wages farmhand in Agathinagar.

Vennila said that she had sought the help of the administration officials to offer her a petty shop since she is mostly immobile. “However, the officials returned my request and asked me to get myself a loan. But, I’m not eligible for any loan,” she said.

The People with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Rights and Full Participation) Act, says that the state government and the local authorities should allocate land for people with disabilities at concessional rated for setting up of business.

Petty shops are auctioned by the City Corporation to those who have a valid certificate. But, Vennila said that since it is not possible for her to get a loan, the administration should give her a free petty shop on compassionate grounds. “The petty shop will support my family financially and will mka eme financially self reliant,” she said.