Latest news with #PwDs
NDTV
2 days ago
- Politics
- NDTV
Delhi Chief Minister Flags Irregularities In Widow Pension And Disability Aid
Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Monday ordered a full review of the city's welfare schemes, citing "serious irregularities" in widow pensions and disability support handed out under the previous Aam Aadmi Party administration. Chairing a crucial meeting at the Delhi Secretariat, Chief Minister Gupta said government aid meant for the most vulnerable was being misused and promised corrective action. "Many women who were not eligible were granted pensions unchecked. Our government will not allow such malpractice," Chief Minister Gupta told senior officials from the Department of Social Welfare and the Department for the Welfare of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. "Those who truly need help will get it. But those found ineligible will be removed from the list." The remarks come amid rising concerns over transparency in the city's social safety net. The Chief Minister accused the former AAP government of "cheating the underprivileged" and turning a blind eye to lapses that allowed benefits to flow to ineligible individuals. A key reform discussed during the meeting was the rollout of digital ID cards for persons with disabilities (PwDs) to tighten beneficiary records. Officials were also directed to address long delays in issuing disability certificates and streamline coordination between departments. Among the schemes under review is the Financial Assistance for Senior Citizens programme, which pays Rs 2,000 - Rs 2,500 a month to over four lakh beneficiaries, mainly from scheduled caste (SC) and scheduled tribe (ST) and low-income groups. The PwD scheme, covering roughly 1.34 lakh individuals, also faces scrutiny over outdated records and inconsistencies in documentation. The Delhi Family Benefit Scheme (DFBS), which offers one-time assistance of Rs 20,000 to families who lose their main earning member, has supported around 1,100 dependants to date. SMILE, a scheme aimed at rehabilitating individuals involved in begging, offers shelter, medical help, counselling, skills training, and livelihood support. Ms Gupta said the government's role goes beyond direct cash aid. "Welfare is not just about handing out money, it also means rehabilitation, education, and livelihood support," she said. The Chief Minister has directed the departments to prioritise data accuracy, digitisation, and faster grievance redressal mechanisms. Officials now have two weeks to submit updated beneficiary lists, with field audits expected to follow. With budgets stretched and public scrutiny rising, the administration faces a key question- can it clean up the system and get support to those who truly need it?
New Indian Express
2 days ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
CM Rekha Gupta plans review of welfare schemes, eligible to get aid
NEW DELHI: CM Rekha Gupta on Monday announced that all existing welfare schemes will be reviewed to ensure only genuinely deserving individuals receive benefits, while those found ineligible will be removed. She also said the process of issuing digital ID cards to persons with disabilities (PwDs) will begin soon. Accusing the previous government of cheating underprivileged sections of society, she said, 'Many women who were not eligible were granted pensions unchecked. Our government will not allow such malpractice. Those who are truly eligible will receive financial assistance under all circumstances, but those found ineligible will be excluded.' The CM chaired a high-level meeting with senior officials from the Department of Social Welfare and the Department for the Welfare of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. The meeting focused on reviewing and improving the implementation of schemes for economically and socially marginalised communities. Key schemes reviewed included the Financial Assistance for Senior Citizens, under which beneficiaries aged 60 and above—particularly from SC/ST and economically weaker backgrounds—receive Rs 2,000 to Rs 2,500 monthly. Over four lakh senior citizens have benefited so far. Another key initiative, the Assistance to Persons with Disabilities (PwDs), offers Rs 2,500 per month to individuals with severe disabilities unable to support themselves. Around 1.34 lakh people have been aided under this scheme. The Delhi Family Benefit Scheme (DFBS) provides a one-time financial support of Rs 20,000 to families who have lost their primary breadwinner. So far, about 1,100 dependants have benefited. The SMILE (Support for Marginalised Individuals for Livelihood and Enterprise) scheme was also reviewed. It aims to rehabilitate individuals involved in begging through services like shelter, medical aid, counselling, skill training, and livelihood support. Gupta directed officials to take concrete steps to improve transparency, efficiency, and data digitisation. She said, 'Our aim is to establish a robust, inclusive, and sensitive support system. We will ensure that no deserving individual is left out, and public funds are used responsibly.' The meeting also addressed key challenges such as delays in disability certification, rehabilitation efforts for beggars, and the digitisation of beneficiary records. The CM instructed departments to resolve these swiftly and present a clear action plan.
Indian Express
2 days ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Delhi Govt to review welfare schemes to ensure help reaches eligible beneficiaries: CM Rekha Gupta
Chief Minister Rekha Gupta Monday announced that all current welfare schemes of the Delhi Government will be reviewed to ensure that only those deserving get help, and directed officials to take steps to improve the implementation of these schemes and ensure transparency and accountability. Gupta also said the process of issuing digital ID cards to Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) will start soon. Taking a dig at the previous Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) regime, Gupta said the former government had cheated the deprived section of society, but her government will not allow such misuse anymore. 'Our aim is to establish a robust, inclusive, and sensitive support system. We will ensure that no deserving individual is left out, and public funds are used responsibly,' the CM said. The chief minister also accused the previous government of consistent fraud and negligence towards Delhi's underprivileged communities. 'Many ineligible individuals benefited from schemes meant for the truly needy,' said Gupta as she alleged there were serious irregularities in the disbursement of widow pensions during the previous administration's tenure. 'Many women who were not eligible were granted pensions unchecked. Our government will not allow such malpractice. Those who are truly eligible will receive financial assistance under all circumstances, but those found ineligible will be excluded from these schemes,' she said Review meeting The CM also held a high-level meeting with officials of the Social Welfare Department and the Department for the Welfare of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. The meeting focused on reviewing ongoing schemes designed to uplift economically and socially marginalised communities. Gupta said the government is not only providing financial assistance but also extending support in the form of rehabilitation, skill development, education, and other essential welfare services. Officials said the Delhi chief minister also reviewed several key welfare schemes designed to support vulnerable sections of society. The Financial Assistance for Senior Citizens scheme provides monthly financial aid to individuals aged 60 and above, especially those from SC/ST communities or economically weaker backgrounds. 'Depending on their age, eligible beneficiaries receive between Rs 2,000 and Rs 2,500 per month. Over four lakh senior citizens have already benefited from this initiative, which is designed to help them live with dignity,' said an official. Another initiative of the Delhi Government is the Assistance to Persons with Disabilities (PwDs), under which individuals with severe disabilities who are unable to support themselves are granted Rs 2,500 per month. So far, around 1.34 lakh people have received this support, which aims to promote their social and economic empowerment. The Delhi Family Benefit Scheme (DFBS) provides a one-time financial assistance of Rs 20,000 to families that have lost their primary breadwinner, said officials. The scheme is currently available to approximately 1,100 dependents, officials said. Additionally, the Support for Marginalised Individuals for Livelihood and Enterprise (SMILE) scheme focuses on rehabilitating individuals involved in begging. It provides essential services, including shelter, medical care, counselling, skill training, and livelihood opportunities, to help them reintegrate into mainstream society with dignity and purpose.
Time of India
3 days ago
- General
- Time of India
PCMC to launch disability survey to strengthen social welfare outreach
Pune: The Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) has announced a comprehensive citywide survey, in collaboration with its Divyang Bhavan, to create an updated and accurate database of persons with disabilities (PwDs). The initiative aims to improve the targeting and delivery of welfare schemes and services, a senior PCMC official said. According to the official, such surveys are mandated every five years under govt regulations and serve multiple purposes. 'Beyond updating records, these surveys help track disability patterns within families for early detection and preventive measures. They also raise awareness about disability rights, strengthen local administrative systems, and provide crucial referral information for early intervention in newborns and infants,' he said. Officials from PCMC's Social Development Department noted that the survey will offer insights into the types of disabilities present in the city and evaluate which govt schemes and services beneficiaries currently access. With the state govt expanding the classification of disabilities from seven to 21 categories last year, the survey will also help update the list of eligible beneficiaries. You Can Also Check: Pune AQI | Weather in Pune | Bank Holidays in Pune | Public Holidays in Pune 'The data will allow us to identify skill gaps among PwDs and design customised training programmes to boost employment opportunities and economic self-reliance,' the official said, adding that both central and state govts utilise such data to improve existing welfare schemes and introduce new policies when needed. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like American Investor Warren Buffett Recommends: 5 Books For Turning Your Life Around Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo The survey will be carried out through a combination of online and offline methods. Women's Self Help Groups (SHGs), ASHA workers, and representatives from the disability community will be involved in the process. A dedicated mobile application is also being developed for digital data collection. Last year, PCMC established Divyang Bhavan, Maharashtra's first dedicated facility for persons with disabilities, offering rehabilitation, therapy, assistive services, and skill development programmes. As Divyang Bhavan officials are involved in the process of the survey, the civic body aims to promote the crucial facility among PwDs to ensure they avail themselves of the various services provided for them. Municipal Commissioner Shekhar Singh said, 'Accurate data is the foundation of effective policymaking. This survey will enable us to provide more inclusive and impactful services to persons with disabilities across the city.'
Time of India
3 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Gig workers' lounges disabled-friendly now as GCC installs ramps
Chennai: Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) has installed ramps at entrances of gig workers' lounges in Anna Nagar and T Nagar. These lounges for delivery partners are air conditioned and have toilets as well as power outlets to recharge mobile phones between orders. With the addition of the ramps, these resting facilities are now accessible to persons with disabilities (PwDs) too. The installation by GCC comes days after a report in The Times of India highlighted that the lounges were inaccessible to disabled delivery partners, particularly those who use wheelchairs. Several delivery partners, spending hours on their battery-powered wheelchairs delivering food and braving the terrible roads, were unable to use the facility to take a break owing to the lack of ramps. You Can Also Check: Chennai AQI | Weather in Chennai | Bank Holidays in Chennai | Public Holidays in Chennai This situation has changed now, said K Sasikumar, a food delivery partner and a wheelchair user. "Before the ramps were added, I had to wait outside even when I was exhausted. It's a relief to finally have a space where I can rest like everyone else," he said. GCC plans to build similar lounges in Thiruvanmiyur, Villivakkam, Royapettah, Mylapore, and Nungambakkam.
