CM Doubles Pension For Disabled

Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy on Tuesday announced the enhancement of pension from Rs. 500 to Rs. 1,000 to 100% disabled persons in the state from January 2014. He also announced that Antyodaya Anna Yojana Cards would be given to all eligible disabled.

The Chief Minister participated as chief guest in a function marking "International Disabled Welfare Day", at Ravindra Bharathi this afternoon.

He announced various sops for the disabled on the occasion, including the following: assistance of Rs. 1 lakh to physically challenged people for housing, on par with SCs and STs; 3G mobiles to professional and PG hearing-impaired students; and incentives of Rs. 50,000 to disabled persons who marry others.

Similarly, the CM also announced a Rs. 1 lakh incentive to every disabled person who marries another disabled person.

He agreed to consider providing scooters or motorcycles to students who complete their graduation and appear for post-graduate courses. Besides, pensions to 84,113 persons with 20-40% disability will be Rs. 200 per month.

The CM observed that there is a need to implement special schemes for the welfare of the disabled. He assured that the government would do everything possible to help the disabled lead lives without depending on others, with courage and self-confidence.

"Their education and self-employment needs will be taken care of to ensure that they lead a life of dignity. Self-employment schemes will be subsidised and implemented," he added.

Kiran Kumar Reddy reiterated his resolve to take up programmes to ensure that the disabled lead a life of dignity. He said that if differently-abled persons are provided opportunities, they would prove their mettle.

"The population of disabled people in the state is around 13 to 14 lakhs, and if the demand for a separate sub-plan for the disabled has to be met, the population will have to be taken into consideration. This will result in the reduction of funds," the Chief Minister said.

He said that steps are being taken to provide Rs. 600 Crores under the Vaddileni Runalu scheme to physically-challenged self-help groups. He also assured that he would take up steps in a phased manner for providing opportunities to the disabled in education, employment and promotions.

The Chief Minister recollected his Nizam College days, and said that as captain of the Hyderabad and South Zone cricket teams, he had many friends who were disabled. He added that blind voters had helped him win the election as President to the Nizam College student union by 9 votes.

Minister for Women and Child Welfare Sunitha Laxma Reddy and several other officials were present on the occasion. (INN)