Physically challenged people in the state are upset with the government’s decision to install a software to assess the parameters that qualify a person as physically challenged.
Only those with 40 per cent disability or above are now entitled to disability pensions and can avail of government schemes and benefits. Due to this stringent parameter to qualify as a handicapped, lakhs of people will not be eligible for disability pensions henceforth and are upset with the government’s decision.
Managing director of AP Viklangula cooperative corporation, G. Prabha-njana Rao said, “Till now, people with negligible physical problems were availing all concessions and facilities, including quota in government jobs But losing a finger or an eye is not considered disabled according to the new parameters calculated by the computer, which would then generate a certificate based on the percentage of loss. Since disability pension for undeserving cases has been stopped, they are up in arms.”
However, there’s a scope for appeal to the appellate medical board if a person, who genuinely deserves the disability benefits, is not satisfied, added Mr Rao.
Minister for pensions, and disabled welfare, Ms Sunitha Laxma Reddy said, “Out of 13 lakh disabled in the state, 10 lakh have been assessed and out of them around 8,58,000 have been found to be fulfilling the 40 per cent disability criteria to get pension.”
Stringent rules to avail pension now
* Only those with above 40 per cent disability are now entitled to disability pensions
* They can also avail government schemes and benefits
* 8.58 lakh of the 13 lakh meet this eligibility rule