New Delhi: Budget 2002 Woes

It appears that the Budget 2002 has been a big disappointment for disabled rights groups. Their recommendations have been ignored and even some exemptions that were announced for diabetes, cancer and AIDS patients stopped short of covering the disabled.

Addressing a press conference on Wednesday, Disabled Rights Group convenor Javed Abidi said: "We had asked for a hike in the limit on income tax exemption for disabled people and their parents from Rs 40,000 to Rs 1,00,000. This was necessary, given the fact that living with disability entails huge costs. To further make necessary aids like sophisticated wheelchairs and other equipment available at reasonable prices, we sought exemptions from import duty and other taxes. Both demands were ignored in this year' s Budget."

Abidi said: "People with disabilities need special equipment and aids. In the absence of quality products manufactured by domestic companies, they have to be imported. The duties are so high that many cannot afford them."

According to an estimate prepared by the Tamil Nadu-based Worth Trust, which sells a machine for typing in braille for the visually impaired, the price of each machine imported from the US works out to Rs 12,500. This includes the import duty charge of Rs 6,900.

Source: No sops for disabled in Budget. Times of India, March 14, 2002, New Delhi, India