Video By: Jahanara Khaliq
Article By: Nusrat Ali
Jammu & Kashmir Schemes for Persons with Disabilities, known as Integrated Social Security Scheme, is administered by the Social Welfare Department. Monthly grant for the pension is amount INR 400/- Pension is provided to poor physically handicapped persons (including Blind, Deaf, Dumb) having no source of income and degree of handicap above 40%.
Khushnuma, a 14 year old girl from Panzoo Tral is 70% disabled since her birth. Khushnuma like other pensioners receives Rs. 400 disability pension every month from the government. But born in a poor family, Khushnuma lacks the basic needs. A meager amount of 400 INR or (6$) is merely a joke.
“She gets a meagre amount of 400 INR for a month while only her medicine for a week cost 1200 INR” says Bashir Ahmad, Khushnuma’s father.
As per the 2011 census, there are over 3.60 lakh people, nearly three percent of J&K population, having one or other disabilities – 2.8 lakh are visually impaired, 0.38 lakh are physically challenged, 0.17 Lakh have speech disability and 0.13 lakh have impairment.
There is drastic need to implement Disability Act 2016 in the state of Jammu and Kashmir so that persons with disability can live a life worth living.
As per the rights to disability act, 2016, “the government shall ensure that the persons with disabilities enjoy the right to equality, life with dignity and respect for his or her integrity equally with others.” The persons with disabilities, as per the act, “shall have equal protection and safety in situations of risk, armed conflict, humanitarian emergencies and natural disasters.”
