Jul 5, 2012 Neha Madaan
PUNE: If all goes as planned by the city-based Disability Commissionerate, the 15.69 lakh population of persons with disabilities (PwDs) in the state will soon have a 'disability welfare fund trust' for financial backing in case of medical emergencies, treatment, surgery as well as education abroad. The commissionerate has proposed a scheme to create a 'disability welfare fund', which now awaits sanction from the state department of social justice and empowerment. "There is no scheme providing financial assistance to PwDs during emergencies, hence this scheme," said an official from the commissionerate. He added that benefit of up to Rs 25,000 per person will be given once the scheme is approved. "The committee to implement the Persons With Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act, 1995, working under the chairmanship of the collector in each district, will manage the budget under this scheme," the official said. Once the scheme is implemented, PwDs who would need monetary help will first have to submit an application to the aforementioned committee in their respective district. "The collector will then verify the application and recommend it to the PwD commissioner, Pune, which is entrusted with the task of drawing and disbursing the grant from the state. The application will later be sanctioned at the state level," he said. "The cheques to be disbursed will be drawn from the 'disability welfare fund trust' and then sent to the respective district. After the scheme is implemented, we will see the number of cases we receive in a year, after which the average annual budget quota will be decided," the official added. He said that of the 15.69 lakh PwDs in the state, 20-30% are below poverty line. "This scheme has been proposed in particular for them. For those in rural areas, the grampanchayats will facilitate the scheme, by sending applications of PwDs to the district," the official said, adding that the trust will also help the disabled across the spectrum. http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-07-05/pune/32550528_1_pwds-financial-assistance-scheme -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Mental Health Advocacy (News 'N Views) India" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/MhaNewsViewsIndia?hl=en ------------- Affiliated Groups : MENTAL HEALTH ADVOCACY INDIA [email protected] Discussions on mental health law / policy / plan monitoring / human rights etc [email protected] India-specific news and views related to mental health [email protected] Information and support to carers of people with mental health issues [email protected] Mutual support and sharing of experiential knowledge, skills and social learning amongst peers
