Karnataka govt slashes funds for differently-abled by 80%

Bengaluru: For thousands of differently-abled persons waiting for the delivery of the state scheme -- from hearing aids and braille kits to two-wheelers -- the state government’s drastic 80 per cent cut in funds over last year’s allocation has come as a major jolt.

Among the 14 schemes offered by the Department for the Empowerment of Differently Abled and Senior Citizens are programmes meant for giving basic aids to the differently-abled persons. These include distribution of hearing aids and crutches, braille kits, sewing machines to the hearing impaired, ‘talking laptop’ to students with visual impairment studying Class 10 and and above, two-wheelers and battery operated wheelchairs for ‘persons with physical disability’.

Last year, the government allocated Rs 53 crore for various schemes. Though the amount was meagre compared to the needs of the differently abled persons (in the 2011 census, 13.24 lakh people in Karnataka were identified as persons with disabilities), the community saw it as a positive step forward in addressing a crisis on the margins of the society.

However, the allocation has been cut to Rs 10 crore for 2024-25, crippling six schemes for which 22,790 persons have submitted applications. The National Federation of The Blind termed the cut “unjustifiable and unprecedented”.

Besides, another scheme to provide battery operated wheelchairs to physically challenged persons has been delayed.

The department for the differently abled is a wing of the Minister for Women and Child Development which is grappling with a huge number of applications and trying to find out how to exclude the applicants.

For instance, the department has received 5,173 applications for hearing aids, crutches and appliances but doesn’t have funds to distribute the aids to more than a few hundred people.

As many as 553 visually impaired students have applied for the laptop but the existing funds won’t allow distribution for more than 35 of them.

The National Federation of The Blind general secretary Guatam Agarwal said such a fund cut in the budget for weaker sections has never happened anywhere. “These are not freebie schemes. These are supposed to be the commitment of any elected government to uplift one of the most vulnerable sections of the society. Unfortunately, people with such needs have been forgotten,” he said.

Agarwal noted that the schemes were kept alive with bare minimum budget.

“Some schemes were introduced 10 years ago and they run with the same budget allocated a decade ago. Look at the laptop scheme for instance. Ten years ago, a laptop for the visually impaired cost Rs 45,000. Last year, it was 96,000. Every single scheme requires funds that match the needs of the community,” he said.

Sources in the department acknowledged the issue. “It is really difficult to select a handful of beneficiaries from thousands of eligible applications. Excluding applications for something basic like a braille kit is really not easy. We have been escalating the matter to the government,” a source said.

Minister for Women and Child Development Laxmi Hebbalkar did not respond to messages and calls. Shamla Iqbal, secretary, Women and Child Development Department, said they were working to address the problem. “I have escalated the matter and also written to the Finance Department,” she said.

To a question, Additional Chief Secretary of Finance Department L K Atheeq said he will look into the matter. “I have also received the complaint from the federation and we have replied to them. We will try to resolve the issue soon,” he said.

Within the federation, activists have opined that the government should come up with a scheme similar to SCSP & TSP, which ensures policy-driven delivery of benefits to scheduled caste and scheduled tribe communities.

Agarwal also noted that the number of differently-abled in Karnataka has increased. “Even in 2011, we believe that the census was not done correctly. Back then, there were seven disabilities. Now, thee are 21 specified disabilities. People from all these sections require different degrees of help and assistance. It does not require thousands of crores of rupees but the will of the leaders to help them,” he said.