Aadhaar a double whammy for 37-yr-old disabled man

Dipender Manta

Tribune News Service

Kullu, January 12

Yashpal (37) of Dugilag village in Kullu district has been facing difficulty in availing disability pension benefit provided by the state government, as he does not possess an Aadhaar card.

The government has made it mandatory to have an Aadhaar card to avail the benefits of various schemes.

Shankutla, mother of Yashpal, said his son had been suffering from 100 per cent disability. His pension had been lying in the local post office for the last six months as the authorities were demanding the Aadhaar card for releasing the money.

She said there was no transportation facility from their village Dugilag. Today, they took him on a cot and covered a long distance on foot to catch a bus to Kullu in order to get his Aadhaar card made. However, due to his 100 per cent disability, the persons concerned could not take his fingerprints.

She said it was difficult for them to take Yashpal out of home time and again. She urged the Centre and the state government to make special provisions for such people.

It is not the sole case in the district, similar cases were reported from the Nirmand area, where the disabled are facing problems in getting the benefits of various welfare schemes.

Deputy Commissioner, Kullu, Yunus Khan said they had approached the higher authorities in this regard. He said a fully-equipped van would visit the homes of such persons to get their Aadhaar card made.

The DC said Rs 25,000 had been released to Yashpal’s family for his treatment.