Kozhikode: Three major government assistance measures for the differently-abled community, including pensions stand suspended. It has been five months since the monthly pension of Rs 1600 was stopped. The government has yet to settle pension arrears worth Rs 339.3 crores.
Previously, the disability pension amount was higher than the social welfare pension. When the social welfare pension was stopped, the differently-abled persons in 21 categories also were affected. This has not been paid since August.
The ‘Aswasakiranam’ scheme that offers Rs 600 for bed-ridden or severely differently-abled persons has been suspended for three years now. In the previous financial year, one year’s amount was paid to some severely disabled persons. However, most of the people did not get the Rs 7200 that was distributed then. After 2018, even applications for the ‘Aswasakiranam’ scheme have not been accepted.
The government on behalf of the differently-abled persons used to pay premiums for the Niramaya Health Insurance Scheme and the annual renewal amount for BPL category persons. But this has also not been paid for a year. Those who enroll in this scheme receive insurance coverage of Rs 1 lakh. The premium amount for the BPL category is Rs 250 and Rs 500 for APL category persons.
To renew this, Rs 50 is taken from the BPL category and Rs 250 from APL. With the stoppage of payments from the social welfare department, differently-abled people are left to pay this premium and renewal amount themselves.
C.K Abubacker, a Member of the Advisory Board on Disability said that denying or delaying benefits to the differently-abled is unfortunate and that the government should take a sympathetic decision in this regard.
- Number of differently-abled persons in the state- 8,64,316
- Beneficiaries eligible to receive pension- 3,89,531
- Pensioners- 3,57,995
- Niramay scheme beneficiaries- 1,08,952
- Aswasakiranam scheme beneficiaries- 19,229
- Arrears of disability pension- Rs 311.62 crores
- Aswasakiranam pension arrears- Rs 27.68 crores
Published: 02 Feb 2024, 11:53 am IST
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