Siddaramaiah announces Rs 44 cr for welfare of differently abled

Bengaluru: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Tuesday said a sum of Rs 44 crore would be allocated under the supplementary budget for the welfare of 15 lakh differently abled people in Karnataka.

The CM made the announcement while speaking at the International Day of Persons with Disabilities event organised by the Department of Empowerment of Differently Abled and Senior Citizens in Bengaluru on Tuesday.

At the event, Siddaramaiah also announced more initiatives such as 4 per cent to 5 per cent job reservations for the differently abled in government sectors and a caregiver allowance of Rs 1,000 per month for those who provide essential support to the differently abled.

He also said Rs two crore has been allocated to 10 residential schools for intellectually challenged children and there are plans for 13 more such schools.

The government increased rural rehabilitation workers' death relief from Rs 50,000 to Rs one lakh and has urged the Union government to enhance disability pensions, he said.

DH on November 29 reported on the slashing of funds from Rs 53 crore in 2023-24 to Rs 10 crore for 2024-25 for the delivery of various state schemes providing aids and appliances to the differently abled, from hearing aids and crutches to braille kits and talking laptops.