The National sample survey 1991 estimated that there are 14.56 million persons in India suffering from physical disabilty in one form or the other. The urban and rural poor are the most vulnerable to disability. The children from the poor families are particularly at risk, which are associated with malnutrition, poor condition of environmental sanitation and communicable diseases.
The population of Madras city is 66.22 lakhs and out of which 18 lakhs live in slum communities with out basic amenities, adequate housing and primary health care services.