JOIN USFund allocation for disabled to be enhanced
The State government will soon enhance the allocation of funds for persons with special abilities from the existing three per cent to five per cent, said Revenue and District in-charge Minister V Srinivas Prasad, here on Wednesday.
Speaking at the ‘International Day for Persons with Disabilities’ programme in the city, he said that civic bodies, as per current regulations, must ensure that at least three per cent of the funds is allotted for the welfare of disabled persons. “However, officials concerned with the implementation of scheme, haven’t shown any commitment towards it,” he said.
Considering the official apathy in using the funds, the State government was mulling over introducing a legislation which would ensure 100 per cent utilisation of the funds allotted. When the legislation is introduced, officials who do not use up the funds, will be penalised, he said.
A meeting regarding the issue will be held with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, so as to ensure benefits for the specially abled, he said.
The proposed legislation of the State government, he said, would be along the lines of Special Component Plan (SCP) and Tribal Sub Plan (TSP), making it mandatory for the concerned departments to identify and provide assistance to beneficiaries.
Krishnaraja MLA, M K Somashekar instructed the officials to compile a list of specially abled persons in his constituency and the benefits being provided to them. Suggesting the officials to use up MLA funds for welfare schemes, he proposed that the specially abled must be distributed tri-wheelers, rather than tri-cycles.
A Braille calendar, was released during the programme, while specially abled persons were also felicitated during the occasion, for their contributions in different fields.