SW proposes Govt to hike allowance given to PWDs
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, May 15 2014 : Social Welfare Department has proposed to the State Government to raise the amount of Unemployment Allowance given to educated persons with disabilities (PWDs) .

An orthopedic and cerebral palsy assessment camp was held at GM Hall here on Friday.

The camp was hosted by Handicapped Development Foundation with technical support from Mobility India under sponsorship of Liliane Foundation.

As per 2011 census, the total population of PWDs in Manipur is 54,110, out of which 19,137 have been officially provided disability certificates by the Social Welfare Department.

Earlier, issuance of disability certificates was jointly done by the Social Welfare and State Medical Board, but now the task has been handled by the Health Department.

Monthly unemployment allowance is given by the Government to educated differently-abled individuals in the age group of 18 and 45 years.

A total of 387 disabled have been getting the benefit in the State as of date.

An allowance of Rs 100 each is given to every PWD matriculate and undergraduate while Rs 150 to each graduate and Rs 200 to every post-graduate.

The present amount of unemployment allowances paid to educated differently-abled individuals is meager and therefore the Government needs to raise it., L Ibobi, Director of Social Welfare, said while speaking at the orthopedic and cerebral palsy assessment camp.

He said that plans are afoot to appoint a disabled commissioner for the department.

The Government Deaf & Mute School and Ideal School in the State have 100 students each, Ibobi informed and added that Rs 750 is given to every student of the two institutes as diet allowance every month.

A pension amount of Rs 300 each is also given by Social Welfare to 1,341 disabled persons in the State under National Disability Pension scheme, he said, adding that grant in aid has also been provided to 14 NGOs working for physically challenged persons.

At the camp, artificial limbs were distributed to orthopedically handicapped individuals.

It is said that similar camps would also be organized in Senapati and Churachandpur districts in due course of time.

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