Naysa Shrivastava, Pune
In the 2024 Budget, an increment in the fiscal year is seen as 625.33 crore allocated this year for the disability affairs department compared to the last year which was 502 crore. In the fiscal year 2024-25, DEPwD has been granted a total of 1,225.01 crore, a slight increment of 0.2% is visible this year.
The budget for this year is committed to enhancing the lives of disabled people by providing them with good opportunities. The investment for Assistance to Disabled Persons for Purchasing/Fitting of Aids and Appliances is 315 crore and the previous allocation was 305 crore, increment of 10 crore for Deendayal Disabled Rehabilitation Scheme 165 crore has been granted and previous allocation was 130 crore increment of 35 crore.
The funding in the field of education for disabled people has seen a dip, the money allocated in scholarship schemes for students with disabilities is 142.68 crore and the previous allocation was 155 crore, comparatively decreased by 12.32 crore. PSU (Public Sector Undertakings) like the National Handicapped Finance and Development Corporation and Artificial Limbs Manufacturing Corporation of India have been granted 194 crore combined. Central Administration Expenditure including Chief Commissioner of Persons with Disability has been granted 20 lakhs and 41.55 crore for secretariat, total expenditure allocation is 42.75 crore, this includes administrative costs for managing disability-related policies and operations at the central level. The allocation for the Regional Department of North East Asia is 75.8 crore and the previous allocation was 65.7 crore, increment of 10.1 crore, enhancing development initiatives for the north-eastern area, designed to improve accessibility and services for persons with disabilities.
For autonomous bodies like Rehabilitation Council of India, Centre for Disability Sports and National University of Rehabilitation Science and Disability Studies funds are decreased to 25 crores from 76 crore, a reduction of 51 crore. The reduction might cause consequences and could create problems in the activities and initiatives taken by the Centre for Disability Sports to encourage people with disabilities. The funding allocations for the National University of Rehabilitation Science and Disability Studies and Rehabilitation Council of India is constant, there are no increments or reductions but the Centre for Disability Sports has been reduced to 25 crore from 76 crore.