SCHEME OF ASSISTANCE TO DISABLED
PERSONS FOR PURCHASE/FITTING OF AIDS/APPLIANCES (ADIP) GAINS POPULARITY
The poor and the
handicapped bear a double burden in their lives. Availability
of suitable, durable and standard aids and appliances can eliminate
some problems of daily living for such persons. The Scheme of
Assistance to Disabled Persons for Purchase/Fitting of Aids/Appliances
popularly known as ADIP, implemented by the Ministry of Social
Justice & Empowerment, is aimed towards this objective. Under
this Scheme, aids and appliances are supplied free of cost along
with required surgeries to poor disabled persons with a monthly
income below Rs.5, 000/-. The Scheme has gained fast popularity
among the disabled.
For flexibility
and ease of implementation, a wide array of organizations in the
Government, Semi-Government sectors, are eligible to implement
this scheme. Red Cross Societies, Zila Panchayats, DRDAs and eminent
NGOs in the field of disability like Bhagvan Mahavir Viklang Sahayata
Samiti, New Delhi and Narayan Seva Sansthan, Udaipur have been
active in the implementation of ADIP. A cafetaria approach through
camps wherein not only the provision and fitment of aids and appliances
but other facilities, such as issuance of disability cards, bus
passes, pension facilities and any other concessional facilities
that are available to disabled, are also provided in these camps.
Since
1997-98, 7.02 lakh beneficiaries have been covered under the scheme.
Another 14,23,000 disabled persons will be covered upto 2007.
Budget allocation has increased from Rs.9 crore in 1997-98 to
54 crore in 2002-03, an indication of the importance that the
Ministry attaches to this scheme. Tricycles, wheel chairs, hearing
aids, braille instruments etc. are supplied under the scheme.
The Ministry is proposing to introduce several modifications that
make the scheme even more disabled-friendly.
