Disabled children eligible for pension from birth, PM Modi says; monthly amounts raised

Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced on Thursday that the Centre will provide pension to children with disabilities from birth. The pension amount has also been increased.

Speaking to athletes who returned from the Asian Para Games, Modi said the Cabinet took important decisions on pensions for persons with disabilities a few days ago. According to him, the government has raised the pension amount and lowered the disability threshold from 80 per cent to 40 per cent. Earlier, the age requirement for the pension was 18 years. Now, the way is open to pension for children with disabilities who are eligible from birth.

On what has changed in the Pradhan Mantri Divyangjan Pension Yojana, last month the government removed the minimum age limit set for persons with disabilities under the scheme. As a result, persons with disabilities are now eligible for pension from birth. Central assistance has also been increased. People up to 79 years of age will get Rs 375 a month, while those aged 80 and above will get up to Rs 625 a month. The number of beneficiaries has risen from 8.33 lakh to 27.48 lakh.

According to the government, the decision will benefit three groups. The first is people holding a certificate of 40 to 79 per cent disability who belong to families below the poverty line.

The second is children from families below the poverty line who hold a certified disability certificate. Under the approved conditions, they will get the benefit from birth. Earlier, such families had to wait until the child turned 18.

The third is people who already receive the pension. They will get the higher rates approved by the government, that is, Rs 375 and Rs 625.

On the numbers, the 2011 Census recorded 26.8 million persons with disabilities in India, or 2.21 per cent of the population. The schedule to the 2016 law lists 21 types of disability.