The Hindu : National : Scheme for handicapped: Cabinet relaxes norms

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Saturday, Apr 09, 2005

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Scheme for handicapped: Cabinet relaxes norms

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, APRIL 8. Providing a significant relief to the disabled, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs today decided to relax the norms for the scheme under which assistance is provided to handicapped for purchase and fitting of various types of aids and appliances.

The highlights of the decision include a raise in the income eligibility ceiling from Rs. 5,000 to Rs. 6,500 for 100 per cent concession and from Rs. 6,500 to Rs. 10,000 for 50 per cent concession and removal of cost ceiling for purchase of software for visually handicapped using computers and motorised tricycles for persons with locomotor disability, but without any change in the extent of subsidy. It would continue to be Rs. 6,000 per device.

Chaired by the Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, the CCEA also decided that Braille writing equipment including braillers, Braille shorthand machines and typewriters for visually handicapped students would be allowed after the IX standard itself, instead of XII standard and that the implementing agencies would ensure mandatory free maintenance for the assistive devices for one year.

In addition, it was decided that at least 25 per cent of the beneficiaries under the scheme should be girl children and women and that two per cent of the annual allocation of funds for the scheme would be earmarked for monitoring and evaluation.

An official spokesperson said that about 2.5 lakh disabled persons had benefited from the scheme during 2003-04 and following the modification, the number was estimated to increase to 3.4 lakh by 2006-07.

The CCEA also gave in principle approval for a scheme to strengthen the distribution network for PDS kerosene and domestic LPG. The scheme, which envisages, among other things, setting up of block-level wholesale points, would be initially implemented in 600 blocks and based on the experience gained it would be expanded to other areas.

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