No age bar on financial assistance to individuals with special needs

NEW DELHI: The Delhi Cabinet on Tuesday approved the social welfare department's proposal that there will be no age restriction for financial assistance to people with special needs. The pension, as per the quantum in existence at the time, will be continued lifelong or until the conditions under which the assistance was granted no longer exist.

"Cabinet took an important and significant decision regarding the Disability Pension today. Now they will not be categorized under Old age pension scheme, rather they will get the enhanced amount of Rs. 2,500 under Disability Pension Scheme even after attaining the age of 60," said Social Welfare Minister Rajendra Pal Gautam.

However, as a matter of clarity, the beneficiary will not be eligible for pension under more than one scheme amongst the three schemes for the old age, persons with disability and pension to women in distress.

"The Department of Social Welfare implements Financial Assistance to the people with Special Needs Scheme, under which financial assistance is given to people with disability in the age group from the birth to 60 years and having annual family income not more than Rs. 1 lakh. The scheme is applicable to people with blindness, low vision, locomotor disability, hearing impaired, leprosy cured, cerebral palsy, autism, mental retardation and mental illness," said an official.

Initially, the scheme was targeted for all unemployed disabled people between 18-55 years registered with unemployment exchange with an income limit of less than Rs. 75,000 pa. At the start in 200607, the quantum of assistance was Rs. 350 pm with 40 beneficiaries. In 2007-08, the quantum of assistance was enhanced to Rs. 600 pm and the number of beneficiaries rose to 175.

The minister further ordered an audit of shelter homes in the city, after cases of sexual abuse were reported from such homes in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh.