Patna: The transport department has taken the initiative to issue driving licences to differently-abled people.

Though there was a norm to issue licences to differently-abled people, it was not being implemented in Bihar because of what the department called ignorance on the part of officials.

For the first time, the department on Wednesday issued seven learning licences apart from first vehicle registration cards to the differently-abled people. They will also get tax exemption of 7 per cent in the purchase of two-wheelers and four-wheelers.

Transport secretary Sanjay Kumar Agarwal accepted the mistake on their part. "Earlier, the transport department used to deny driving licence to the differently abled. However, under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, there is category called 'invalid carriage' which talks about motors especially designed for the differently-abled. Such people can get a driving licence once they clear the driving test," Agarwal said.

A few days back, members of the Rashtriya Viklag Manch met Agarwal in his office and registered their grievances regarding the transport department not issuing driving licences to them.

Agarwal immediately issued orders to all district transport officers (DTOs) to open a separate counter in their respective offices to issue driving licences to them.

He also handed over the first few vehicle registration cards to Dharmendra Kumar, Radha Kumari and Kumar Vaishnavi.

" I have been trying to get a driving licence for the past seven years," Vaishnavi said. "I ran from pillar to post but could not get it. When the new transport secretary joined we contacted him and he agreed to help us out. We are very happy that he has fulfilled our demand," Viashnavi said.

Agarwal said there are at least 10,000 differently-abled people who know driving and want a driving licence.

"Thanks to technology advances, the differently abled can easily drive two-wheelers and four-wheelers," Agarwal said. "One should not see them as being dependant on anyone. They should get equal opportunities. We will also give tax exemption of 7 per cent to those who have purchased two-wheelers and four-wheelers in the past year."