*National Platform for the Rights of the Disabled*
July 22, 2014 *Press Release* *Enhance Disability Pension* Affiliates of the National Platform for the Rights of the Disabled (NPRD) will be holding demonstrations in various parts of the country on July 23 focusing on the demand for an enhancement in the pension (maintenance allowance) paid to persons with disabilities. Currently under the Indira Gandhi National Disability Pension Scheme (IGNDPS) a pittance of Rs. 300/- is doled out as disability pension per month to persons with severe or multiple disabilities in the age group of 18-59 years and belonging to BPL families. Under the scheme states have been “urged” by the central government to contribute atleast a matching amount from their own resources. However, there is no uniformity either in the matter of the amount given or the eligibility criteria followed by the states. A majority of the disabled, bulk of whom are poor, continue to be deprived of pension, despite having no means of livelihood. As against a disabled population of 2,68,10,557, as per the 2011 census, only 7,65,000 have been covered under the scheme, as revealed by the Annual Report of the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment (2011-12). Moreover, as a consequence of the reduced spending by the government on social security schemes, many states are revising the eligibility criteria thereby reducing the already modest number of beneficiaries. The inability of the government to provide any form of employment to persons with disabilities has rendered a vast majority of them, living in appalling conditions, totally dependable on such schemes. While the NPRD will campaign around the slogan of “Jobs or Maintenance Allowance”, on July 23 it will be demanding enhancement of the maintenance allowance (pension) to a minimum of Rs. 3000/- per month for all disabled. Maintenance allowance should be more for persons with higher degrees of disability. There is a need to have a uniform criteria throughout the country. The NPRD welcomes the reported moves by the Government of India to issue universally valid identity cards for persons with disabilities. This has been one of its long standing demands. The issuance of such cards will tide over the issue of disabled persons having to procure multiple certificates/cards for different purposes. However, currently, around 65 per cent of disabled persons do not possess even the existing certificates, keeping them out of any social security scheme. It is therefore imperative that the government speed up the process of providing the universally valid Disability Card. Hundreds of disabled persons will participate in demonstrations and dharnas in various district headquarters on the above demands. *(Muralidharan)* *For National Platform for the Rights of the Disabled* *9868768543* Register at the dedicated AccessIndia list for discussing accessibility of mobile phones / Tabs on: http://mail.accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/mobile.accessindia_accessindia.org.in Search for old postings at: http://www.mail-archive.com/accessindia@accessindia.org.in/ To unsubscribe send a message to accessindia-requ...@accessindia.org.in with the subject unsubscribe. To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other changes, please visit the list home page at http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org.in Disclaimer: 1. Contents of the mails, factual, or otherwise, reflect the thinking of the person sending the mail and AI in no way relates itself to its veracity; 2. AI cannot be held liable for any commission/omission based on the mails sent through this mailing list..
