A new scheme that could bring about a change in the lives of men and women with disabilities has evoked a good response in the district.

The State government has implemented a new scheme which provides an allowance to those who enter into a wedlock with a person with disability.

The government, in its budget for the year 2013-14, had announced various benefits for the development of the physically challenged.

This included a scheme where a person getting married to a physically challenged person is eligible to an allowance of Rs 50,000, which will be deposited in the name of the disabled spouse for a period of five years.

They can utilise the monthly interest for the period. After five years, they can either continue the same or withdraw the fixed deposit money.

The government has however imposed some conditions. Registration of the wedding at the Registrar’s office has been made mandatory and only those with 40 per cent disability can avail the scheme.

Second marriages have been ruled out. Scholarships for meritorious physically challenged and allowance for their childcare have also been introduced.

Childcare

Visually challenged women belonging to the BPL category are eligible for childcare allowance too. An allowance of Rs 2,000 will be paid up to two years after delivery, for two children, under the scheme.

The annual earnings of the family should be below Rs 2.5 lakh.

Education

The government has chalked out plans to encourage meritorious students with disability to pursue higher studies from this year.

Accordingly, the fee paid by the disabled to continue higher education, vocational studies, technical education and post graduation will be reimbursed. The exam fee, tuition, lab, sports and library fee will be reimbursed as per the scheme.
Students should have 80 per cent attendance during his or her previous academic year. Students who are already getting an allowance through other sources will not be eligible under the scheme.

The Disability Welfare Officers of the respective districts will have the discretionary powers to sanction the scheme. District officer H K Revanesh said the proposals are being accepted under the scheme and it is being publicised in the taluks through rural rehabilitation workers.
DH News Service