Rajasthan allots less than 0.5% of Budget for specially-abled

Rajasthan, known to be promoting overall development of people with disabilities, allots less than 0.5 per cent of the total Budget for the same every year, states the latest study of the Budget and Schemes for People with Disability in the state.

The study, done by Budget Analysis Rajasthan Centre, points out that while the overall amount of money allotted for specially-abled people increases every year, the allocation percentage from the total Budget shows a declining trend.

“In the last five years, the Budget for the disabled from the state’s total Budget has dropped from 0.22 per cent in 2013-14 to only 0.17 per cent in 2017-18,” the report states.

Meanwhile, even in the amount of money allocated for the development of the people with disability, a major portion goes into several pension schemes, and not much is left for employment and education. In Budget 2016-17, the GoR allocated Rs 253.17 crore for various schemes and programmes.

“We demand for a substantial increase in allocation on the welfare schemes for the differently-abled people along with the increase in pension,” the study stated in the ‘Recommendations’.

In addition to this, the study points out that most beneficiaries are either unaware or remain unbenefitted under the several schemes, like Astha Card and Chief Minister Specially-abled Self Employment Scheme launched by the state for their uplift.

“In the study, 96% of the total beneficiaries under the Chief Minister Specially-abled Self Employment Scheme have stated that they have not received any training for self-employment, so far,” the study states. It also states that 33 per cent Astha Card holders have not received any benefit since the card was issued.