Lok Sabha Question No. 249 (STARRED), answered on 2026-03-10
Subject: Rehabilitation of Divyangjan
Ministry: SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT
Asked by: Shri Narayandas Ahirwar

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SOCIAL JUSTICE& EMPOWERMENT DEPARTMENT OF EMPOWERMENT OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES (DIVYANGJAN)

LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 249 ANSWERED ON 10.03.2026

## REHABILITATION OF DIVYANGJAN

*249. SHRI NARAYANDAS AHIRWAR :

Will the Minister of SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  the  condition  of  Divyangjan  from  economically  weaker  families  is  becoming extremely pathetic due to rising inflation and they are unable to receive adequate nourishment, education and the desired benefits of Government schemes, if so, the details thereof;
- (b)  whether  the  Government  proposes  to  increase  the  current  pension/maintenance  amount  of approximately one thousand rupees per month to five thousand rupees per month provided to Divyangjan in the States including Uttar Pradesh, if so, the details thereof;
- (c)  whether  the  Government proposes to provide a fifty percent rebate  on domestic electricity bills  to  Divyangjan  and  initiate  special  recruitment  drives  at  the  Central-State  level  for rehabilitation and self-reliance of the said Divyangjan; and
- (d) if so, the details of the action taken so far in this regard and if not, the reasons therefor;

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT (DR. VIRENDRA KUMAR)

- (a) to (d):  A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

## STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 249 FOR 10 th   March 2026

(a) The Government recognizes the importance of supporting Divyangjans especially from weaker  sections  of  the  society.  For  support  in  education,  the  Government  administers  the Scholarship  for  Students  with  Disabilities  scheme,  through  which  Divyang  children  whose parental annual income ranges from Rs.2.5 Lakh to Rs.8 Lakh are provided Scholarship.

Further,  the  Scheme  of  Assistance  to  Persons  with  Disabilities  for  Purchase/Fitting  of Aids  /Appliances  (ADIP)  provides  assistive  devices  at  concessional  rate  or  free  of  cost  to low-income  persons  with  disabilities  having  monthly  income  not  exceeding  Rs.30,000/-  per month.

In  addition,  the  Deendayal  Divyangjan  Rehabilitation  Scheme  (DDRS)  caters  to  all economic sections of persons with disabilities through an array of community-based rehabilitation like early intervention, special education, support for development of daily living skills, vocational training etc.

(b) National  Social  Assistance  Programme  (NSAP)  is  a social  security  programme  for  the most vulnerable persons of the society living below poverty line, both in rural and urban areas irrespective  of  the  category  of  the  beneficiaries.  One  of  the  components  of  the  scheme  is  the Indira Gandhi National Disability Pension Scheme (IGNDPS).

The central assistance under the IGNDPS is ₹300/- per month per beneficiary from 18 to 79 years of age and ₹ 500/- per month per beneficiary from 80 years onwards. The States/UTs are  encouraged  to  provide  top-up  amount  of  at  least  an  equivalent  amount  to  the  assistance provided  by  the  Central  Government  so  that  the  beneficiaries  could  get  a  decent  level  of assistance. At present, various States/Union Territories are  adding different  amounts  as additional contributions (top-up) per beneficiary under the disability pension scheme. At present, there is no proposal under consideration to revise the coverage/rate of central assistance under NSAP.

(c)  to  (d)  The  matter  of  rebate  on  domestic  electricity  bills  to  any  particular  category  of consumers falls within the domain of State/UT Governments.

The  Government  of  India  launched  'PM  Surya  Ghar:  Muft  Bijli  Yojana'  aiming  to provide  households  with  free  electricity  through  the  installation  of  subsidized  rooftop  solar panels, significantly reducing their energy costs.

The  RPwD  Act,  2016  mandates  a  minimum  of  4%  reservation  for  persons  with benchmark disabilities (PwBDs) in government employment. The Centre has also mandated 4% reservation  in  promotion  in  identified  posts.  The  Department  has  issued  an  indicative  list  of around 3500 types of posts under all central government establishments, identified for PwBDs and also issued post identification guidelines for all central Ministries/Departments to follow to ensure effective and uniform implementation of reservation.

**********