The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs on Friday approved revised benefits under the Scheme of Assistance to Disabled Persons for Purchase/Fitting of Aids/Appliances (ADIP). The new norms, proposed by the Department of Disability Affairs, will be effective from April 1.
Under the revised norms, the income eligibility ceiling for 100 per cent concession, from the existing Rs. 6,500 per month, has been enhanced to Rs. 15,000 per month and for a 50 per cent concession from Rs. 15,001 to Rs. 20,000 per month.
User-friendly mobile phones will be provided once in five years to visually-challenged students of age 18 years and above. Laptop and Braille Note Taker will be given to school-going disabled students (Class 10 and above), once in 10 years.
Also, cost ceiling for aids and appliances have been revised from Rs. 6,000 to Rs. 10,000 for single disability and from Rs. 8,000 to Rs. 12,000 for students with disabilities. Ceiling of cost of medical/surgical correction,has been revised from Rs. 500 to Rs. 1,000 for hearing and speech challenged; from Rs. 1,000 to Rs. 2,000 for visually challenged, and from Rs. 3,000 to Rs. 5,000 for orthopedically challenged.
The subsidy for motorised tricycles and wheelchairs has also been enhanced from the present Rs. 6,000 to Rs. 25,000 for the severely disabled. This will be provided to those aged 18 and above once in 10 years. The provision for cochlear implant for 500 children per year has also been increased with a ceiling of Rs. 6 lakh per unit.
