Disability, Not Income, Should Decide Pension: Activists
MANGALURU: A disability rights organisation has questioned the government's decision to cap disability pension eligibility at an annual income of ₹32,000, arguing that disability status alone should determine who receives the pension.
The Dakshina Kannada district unit of Sakshama, a group working for persons with disabilities, said on Friday that the income threshold is excluding many deserving individuals from much-needed financial support.
Rajashekar Bhat Kakunje, president of the Sakshama unit, told reporters in Mangaluru that a person with disability must first obtain a Unique Disability Identity (UDID) card, issued after examination at the district hospital, to apply for a disability pension. However, the application is accepted only if the applicant belongs to the Below Poverty Line category and has an annual income below ₹32,000.
"By considering ₹32,000 as the criterion, many persons with disabilities are being denied pensions," Mr. Kakunje said. He also noted that payment of monthly pensions to persons with disabilities has been stopped since April as the government has taken up a rationalisation exercise for beneficiaries.
"We welcome the process of rationalisation. But this process should not be taken up at the cost of stoppage of payment. The stoppage of pension has adversely affected the care of persons with disabilities," he added.
Vidyaratna, who won the State-level award in 2013 for achievers among persons with disabilities, said it was wrong to deny pension to those whose income was more than ₹32,000. She added that due to their physical and mental disabilities, it is difficult for persons with disabilities to raise their voice against the denial of monthly pension.
An official from the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities said the pension payments were stopped across the State in April when the government began revising the list of beneficiaries. The revision was prompted by complaints that some beneficiaries had submitted fake disability certificates to claim pensions. The official assured that the unpaid pension amount will be released as soon as the revision exercise is completed.
According to the official, there are over 22,000 beneficiaries of disability pension in Dakshina Kannada. Those with disabilities between 40% and 75% are eligible for a monthly pension of ₹800, while those with more than 75% disability are eligible for ₹1,600 per month.
The organisation's demand highlights a broader concern about the adequacy of social security measures for persons with disabilities in India, particularly in light of ongoing government reviews aimed at weeding out fraudulent claims.
