Revision in Central Sector Scheme of Assistance to Disabled Persons for Purchase/Fitting of Aids/Appliances

No: ----- Dated: Feb, 28 2014

Revision in Central Sector Scheme of Assistance to Disabled Persons for Purchase/Fitting of Aids/Appliances

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has approved the proposal of the Department of Disability Affairs to certain modifications and revision of cost norms in the Scheme of Assistance to Disabled Persons for Purchase/Fitting of Aids/Appliances (ADIP Scheme), effective from 1st April, 2014.

The salient features of the revision are as follows: -

(i) Enhancement of income eligibility ceiling for 100 percent concession from the existing Rs. 6500/- per month to Rs. 15,000/- per month and for a 50 percent concession from Rs. 15001/- to Rs. 20,000/- per month.

(ii) To provide accessible mobile phone to visually impaired students of the age of 18 years and above only, once in five years and to provide laptop, Braille Note Taker and Brailler to school going disabled students (10th and above), once in 10 years.

(iii) Cost ceiling for aids/appliances revised from Rs. 6000/- to Rs. 10,000/- for single disability and from Rs. 8000/- to Rs. 12,000/- for students with disabilities.

(iv) Ceiling of cost of medical/surgical correction which presently ranges from Rs. 500/- to Rs. 3.000/- revised as under:-

(a) From Rs. 500/- to Rs. 1000/- for hearing and speech impaired.

(b) From Rs. 1000/- to Rs. 2000/- for visually disabled.

(v) Enhancing the extent of subsidy for motorized tricycles and wheelchairs from the present Rs. 6000/- to Rs. 25,000/- for severely disabled and for locomotor disabilities such as quadriplegic (SCI), muscular dystrophy, stroke, cerebral palsy, hemiplegia and any other person with similar conditions where either three/four limbs or one half of the body are severely impaired. This will be provided to the persons of age of 18 years and above, once in 10 years.

(vi) Provision for cochlear implant for 500 children per year with hearing disability under the scheme, with a ceiling of Rs. 6.00 lakh per unit. Income ceiling for the beneficiaries will be same as per (i) above.

Background:

The ADIP Scheme was launched in 1981 with the objective of providing durable/sophisticated and scientifically manufactured modern, standard aids and appliances to promote physical/social and psychological rehabilitation of Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) by reducing the effects of disabilities and enhance their economic potential. The scheme was revised last in 2005.