Haryana triples allowance to unemployed handicapped

Chandigarh, July 10 (UNI) The Haryana Government has decided to enhance by almost three times the unemployment allowance to the educated physically handicapped persons having not less than 70 per cent disability.

Those having educational qualification of middle schoold would get revised unemployment allowance of Rs 1000 instead of Rs 400 earlier, matriculates would get Rs 1500 instead of Rs 500 and those having higher educational qualification or has done diploma would get Rs 2000 per month instead of Rs 600.

The state's disability Commissioner Baldev Karora told newspersons here today that a decision taken by Chief Minister Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda to facilitate the educated handicapped, would be effective from April 1, 2006.

Haryana Government has also provided a relaxation of 10 years in age limit to the handicapped for entry into Government service.

Also, the government has already enhanced the retirement age from 58 to 60 years for those having not less than 70 per cent disability. With a view to provide livelihood to the blind, the State Government has filled up all 135 sanctioned posts of canners and the entire backlog of the handicapped would be completed by December this year.

However, 200 posts have been filled up as a part of the drive to complete the backlog. All class III and IV posts reserved for handicapped have been taken out from the purview of the Haryana Staff Selection Commission. He assured that the remaining backlog of handicapped would be fulfilled by December next.

The rates of conveyance allowance admissible to the handicapped have been enhanced from five per cent of the basic pay or maximum of Rs 250 per month to five per cent of the basic pay or a maximum of Rs 600 per month.

Priority is being given to the blind employees of the State Government in allotment of government accommodation. Efforts would be made to provide bus facilities to the handicapped having 70 per cent disability, he added.

Recently, the Government enhanced the rate of pension from Rs 300 to Rs 600 per month for blinds, deaf and dumb, mentally retarded and 100 per cent orthopedically handicapped.

He said that 97,336 handicapped were getting the benefit of pension scheme and 800 handicapped persons were getting the benefit of unemployment allowance. There were 1.85 crore handicapped in the country according to the survey report conducted in 2001, he said.

He said that a survey would also be conduct by the Health and Social Welfare Department in 2006-07 and the help of District Red Cross Societies and Non Governmental Organisations would also be sought.

Dr Kaora said the department had been implementing a number of schemes to encourage physically handicapped and blind students. The physically handicapped students having not less than 40 per cent disability and family income less than 6000 per month and studying in various Government and recognised schools, colleges and universities are provided scholarships ranging from Rs. 100 to Rs.

750 per month, according to their class.

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