NEW DELHI: Fixed deposit schemes, financial assistance for marriages, skill development programmes and rehabilitation of beggars. Delhi Government has certainly paid attention to the needs of the differently abled. It has earmarked Rs 3,429 crore for such projects and schemes in the budget for 2019-20. It also proposes to set up an institution for the rehabilitation of persons with disabilities.
“When our government came to power in February 2015, only 4.8 lakh disabled beneficiaries were getting financial assistance and the total expenditure was Rs 837 crore,” deputy CM Manish Sisodia said in the budget speech. “In four years, we have increased the budget allocation two and a half times to Rs 2,214 crore to cover around 7.6 lakh beneficiaries under financial assistance schemes for senior citizens, persons with special needs and women in distress.”
On lines similar to the Ladli scheme for the girl child, the government announced a fixed-deposit scheme for students with disabilities with monetary aid admissable at specific stages of educational attainment from the 2019-20 fiscal. The government also plans to extend financial assistance to parents with disability for the marriage of their daughters from this year.
The minister also announced a subsidy on the purchase of scooters and motorised tricycles designed to suit the needs of persons with locomotor disability, a new initiative to facilitate mobility of differently abled students.
Another major announcement was the proposal for the establishment of an “Institute of Rehabilitation and Allied Services to Persons with Disabilities” and a new programme for skill development and rehabilitation of beggars.
The announcements have heartened the community. “It is good to finally see the government coming out with budget for the disability sector,” said disability rights activist Dr Satendra Singh of Delhi University. “The rehabilitation institute and support for beggars are welcome, because many people affected by leprosy will benefit from this. Still a lot needs to be done, and the proposed department for disability and the various committees mandated under the rights of persons with disabilities can all bring about the required change.”
Source: The Times of India February 28, 2019 edition