International day of disabled: In Telangana, autism and acid attack survivors to be included in disabled welfare
International day of persons with disabilities is an international observance promoted by the United Nations since 1992.
The day aims to promote an understanding of disability issues and mobilise support for the dignity, rights and well-being of persons with disabilities.
International day of persons with disabilities also seeks to increase awareness of gains to be derived from the integration of person with disabilities in every aspect of political, social, economic and cultural life.
Each year the day focuses on the different issue. This year the UN has announced "Transformation towards sustainable and resilient society for all" as the annual theme.
Several different NGOs are organising events to spread awareness and to observe The International Day of Persons with disabilities.
The Telangana government has given a good news to disabled people by announcing that it will form a new set of guidelines which will take acid burns victims and people under 14 other categories under disabled welfare to extend their benefits.
Before this only seven categories blindness, low vision, locomotive disability, hearing impairment, mental retardation, mental illness and leprosy were covered under disabled welfare.
But from now on people with conditions such as cerebral palsy, dwarfism, muscular dystrophy, specific learning disabilities, deafness, autism, spectrum disorder, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, haemophilia, thalassemia, sickle cell disease, multiple disabilities (conditions of any two disabilities or more) and acid attack survivors, will be given benefits under disabled welfare, Telangana Today reported.
Some of the benefits that they will receive include pre and post-matric scholarships, economic rehabilitation scheme, marriage incentive schemes and pensions.
Another noticeable thing is that the most states consider a person for the PwDs pension only if he/she has more than 80% disability but in Telangana, the government has been giving pensions to disabled persons irrespective of their age and extent of their disability.