Chandigarh, September 16:- Haryana Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Shri Krishan Kumar Bedi said that a scheme named Haryana Disability Pension is being implemented to provide social security to persons with disabilities. The main objective of the scheme is to provide social security to such persons with disabilities who are unable to support themselves through their own resources and require financial assistance from the state. Around 60 per cent or more persons with disabilities are being provided the benefit of the Disability Pension Scheme at the rate of Rs 3,200 per month, with 2 lakh 71,104 eligible persons being provided the benefit every month. Under this pension scheme, the names of eligible beneficiaries are also added to the list every month through the concerned District Social Welfare Officer.
The Social Justice and Empowerment Minister said that under the eligibility criteria for disability, persons with disabilities aged 18 years or above are included. The applicant must be a resident of Haryana and must have been a permanent resident of Haryana for the preceding 15 years at the time of submitting the application. As per the Parivar Pehchan Patra (PPP), close relatives such as parents, son and son’s son should not be supporting the applicant, and the applicant’s annual income from all sources should not exceed the minimum wage of an unskilled worker notified by the Labour Department and circulated by the department from time to time.
No Age Limit Applicable to Patients with Haemophilia, Thalassemia and Sickle Cell Anaemia
He said that there is no age limit for patients suffering from haemophilia, thalassemia and sickle cell anaemia to avail the disability pension, but the applicant’s annual income from all sources should not exceed Rs 3 lakh.
Shri Bedi said that in cases of haemophilia, thalassemia and sickle cell anaemia, financial assistance under the Social Security Pension Scheme will be provided only upon issuance of a disability certificate by the Health Department. In the case of thalassemia, the beneficiary will have to get the certificate verified every year by the concerned Civil Surgeon regarding whether the beneficiary has recovered or not. If, after verification, it is found that the beneficiary has recovered, the financial assistance will be discontinued with immediate effect. In cases of haemophilia, thalassemia and sickle cell anaemia, the financial assistance provided under this scheme is separate from (additional to) the benefit received by the applicant under any other social security pension scheme.
He further said that this Disability Pension Scheme will apply to persons who have become disabled due to any one of the diseases notified by the Haryana Government. These include locomotor disability, cured leprosy patients, cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, blindness, low vision, hearing impairment, speech and language disability, intellectual disability, specific learning disability, autism spectrum disorder, mental illness, chronic neurological conditions, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, sickle cell disease, multiple disabilities, acid attack and others. In addition, persons of short stature are also included in the government’s disability category and are being provided the benefit of monthly pension.