Scheme for disabled to be revamped

The state Department of Disabled Welfare is set to revamp its scheme to provide employment to disabled people.

After reviewing the scheme and finding that in several districts the scheme has not benefited the disabled persons for the last two years,the department has decided that from December onwards it will hold awareness campaigns every fortnight so that more and more people can be brought under the fold. The department will also try to simplify the method of applying for financial support under this scheme.

Principal Secretary (Disabled Welfare) Shailesh Krishna held a review meeting of the department on Friday. In the meeting,it was found that since the last two years,there have been several districts like Kanshi Ram Nagar,Mahoba,Kaushambi,Kannauj,Ambedkar Nagar,Balrampur,Behraich and Shrawasti,where the scheme has failed to take off. In these districts,no new shops had been allotted to the disabled persons.

According to the scheme,the department has to provide financial assistance to the unemployed disabled people who submit their applications under the scheme.

While in the rural areas the department provides assistance for building shops in local markets,selling items like mobile recharge coupons and betel leaves,in urban areas the assistance may include a kiosk for different food items or goods shop.

The department not just provides support for bank loans,but also helps in setting up shops in prime areas. But since the entire process is quite cumbersome in terms of getting bank loans approved and also getting certified from several levels,the number of beneficiaries is quite low.

So far,the department waited for applications from the disabled people to support them under this scheme. But due to lack of awareness,the department has found that there are several districts where the scheme has no takers. We have found that although the scheme offers the disabled an opportunity to be employed instead of asking us for pensions,yet there arent many beneficiaries. We were also told that since the process was cumbersome,people preferred to stay away, said Krishna.

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We not just need to spread more awareness about the scheme,but also simplify the entire process. The applicant has to run several times to get small loans sanctioned, said Krishna.

For small amounts,we will be giving financial assistance ourselves instead of bank loans. Also,we will be fixing targets for all districts according to the number of pension beneficiaries. We are trying to make changes before the next fiscal, he added.

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