'Nirmaya', a helping hand for specially-abled person

“Nirmaya” a Health Insurance Scheme was launched for the welfare of persons with Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Mental Retardation and Multiple Disabilities on March 26 by Meira Kumar, Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment.

The scheme aimed at providing benefit to the differently abled people in terms of quality medical facilities in their areas. Under this scheme the persons need not have to pay anything for the services provided to them. Moreover, such person covered under the scheme does not have to pay even a penny if treated in hospital for expenditure up to Rs 1 Lakh.

The scheme also covers transport arrangement to the hospital and OPD services. The premium of the insurance scheme is paid by the National Trust for the Below Poverty Line persons. The above poverty line persons can also avail this facility by paying the suitable premium.

The ministry will launch the programme on pilot basis in 10 districts including Central Delhi- Delhi, Kaimur- Bihar, Chandigarh-Haryana, Jabalpur-Madhya Pradesh, Agartala-Tripura, Raeareily -UP, Erode-Tamil Nadu, Ernakulam-Kerala, Ahmedabad-Gujarat and Bhageshwar in Uttarakhand.

During the launch of the programme, the first 20 specially-abled people were distributed photo ID cards. Subbulakshmi Jagadeesan, the Minister of State for Social Justice & Empowerment, Smt. Poonam Natarajan, Chairperson of National Trust and Smt. Veena Chhotray, the Secretary of SJ&E were also present in the function .A film on Gyan Prabha Awardees was also shown on the occasion.

According to the World Health Organisation six billion people have a disability and in India alone, there are over 60 million people with disabilities. Though differently able people are making their own niche in different field with timely and proper assistance but still most of them depend on other for financial needs as well as for basic needs. The anguish of such person becomes immeasurable in the absence of any social security programme and a country like ours where still there is a lot to be done.

Majority of disabled persons remain unemployed depending on the severity of the disabilities and hence providing such welfare schemes is to lessen their woes in many way.