Beneficiaries identified under scheme for elderly handicapped

Nikhila Pant Dhawan

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, April 14

Following the pattern of the Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana launched in Andhra Pradesh, the district administration has also identified elderly physically handicapped persons under a similar scheme.

The Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana is a scheme for providing physical aids and assisted-living devices to senior citizens suffering from physical disabilities and belonging to the BPL category. The aim of the scheme is to help the elders, who do not have enough money to buy medical aids to ease their problems arising from physical disabilities.

Before the scheme was launched in Andhra Pradesh, the Punjab government’s Department of Social Security and Development of Women and Children had issued letters to the Deputy Commissioner directing the department concerned to compile a list of beneficiaries who may be covered under the scheme.

As per the information, the DC has been made the chairperson of the committee to implement the scheme for Bathinda district while ADC (D), chief medical officer, district social security officer and representatives of Artificial Limbs Manufacturing Corporation of India have been made members of the committee.

In January, the Department of Social Security and Development of Women and Children had organized special check-up camps for the disabled. After scrutiny of the data collected at these camps, the administration has compiled a list of 1,343 beneficiaries who may be given aid under the scheme.

Of the total beneficiaries, 109 were identified during the camp held at District Disability Rehabilitation Centres, 155 at the Civil Hospital Nathana, 125 at the Civil Hospital Rampura Phul, 132 at the Civil Hospital Talwandi Sabo, 163 at the District Administrative Complex in Bathinda, 156 at the Civil Hospital Goniana, 103 at the Civil Hospital Bhagta Bhaika, 83 at the Civil Hospital Sangat Mandi, 228 at the Civil Hospital Maur and 89 at the Civil Hospital Bathinda.