Maharashtra sets aside 1% of district plan funds for 16 schemes for disabled, about Rs 218 crore

The state government has set aside up to 1 per cent of funds under the District Annual Plan (General) for the welfare, rehabilitation and empowerment of persons with disabilities. The manner of running 16 types of schemes from this fund has also been decided, and a government order has been issued.

Minister for Welfare of Persons with Disabilities Atul Save said eligible persons with disabilities in rural and urban areas would get financial help for e-vehicles, e-bikes, e-wheelchairs, digital aids, a child care fund, skill training and accessibility facilities. About Rs 218 crore is expected to be available from all districts of the state in the financial year 2026-27.

The government took the decision to implement the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 and the Maharashtra State Disability Policy, 2018 effectively and to increase the social inclusion of persons with disabilities. Reserving up to 1 per cent of the regular schemes' funds of the District Annual Plan from 2025-26 had already been approved. According to Minister Save, the fund will be used to provide a continuous chain of services, aids and rights needed at different stages of the lives of persons with disabilities.

Eligible persons with disabilities will get up to Rs 3 lakh for an e-vehicle or Rs 1.5 lakh for an e-bike. Those with mobility difficulties will get up to Rs 1 lakh for an e-wheelchair. The purchase contract for these vehicles will also include three years of maintenance and repair costs.

Students with disabilities pursuing engineering or medical courses will be given a tablet or talking laptop, while students from Class 8 to Class 12 will get a screen reader. A ceiling of Rs 75,000 has been set for this. For the visually impaired, smart glasses, smart canes, low vision kits, Braille learning kits, talking watches, talking calculators and sensor-equipped glasses will be provided. Video tutorials will be made for students with hearing impairment. Educational institutions working for students with disabilities will get up to Rs 1.5 lakh for a set of digital educational material.

A provision of up to Rs 10 lakh a year has been made for a district-level exhibition of modern technology and assistive devices for persons with disabilities. At these exhibitions, local start-ups will be able to display devices and make technical presentations, and will also get a chance to interact with beneficiaries and government bodies.

An eligible person who comes for assessment to obtain a Universal Disability Identity (UDID) card will get travel expenses of up to Rs 1,000, once. At least one special camp a year will be held at every district and taluka level. At these camps, UDID cards, bus passes, health check-ups and other necessary services will be available in one place. Each district can spend up to Rs 10 lakh a year on these camps.

For persons with disabilities who have already been given housing, help of up to Rs 25,000, once, will be given for building an accessible toilet or commode, repairs and other accessibility work. In government schools and colleges, up to Rs 2.5 lakh for new construction and up to Rs 1.5 lakh for repairs can be given for special accessible toilets, ramps and necessary facilities for disabled boys and girls.

To help students and youth with disabilities acquire employable skills, financial help will be given for short-term certificate courses, long-term or vocational courses, Industrial Training Institutes and other government-recognised training. Rs 25,000 will be given for a short-term course. For long-term courses, ITIs and other government-recognised vocational training, the amount will be up to Rs 50,000 or the actual cost, whichever is less.