Rashtriya Ati-Vikalang Kosh

The tentatively titled 'Rashtriya Ati-Vikalang Kosh', is a Rs. 100-crore fund that will hopefully provide social security for parents of children with autism, cerebral palsy, mental retardation and multiple disabilities. This fund is applicable to families who either fall below the poverty line or are above the poverty line, but still need some kind of relief or subsidies. This social security fund is envisaged to provide nutrition and medical allowance, education and training allowance, disability employment allowance and even disability pension if wards are above 40 years through local level committees of the National Trust in all the districts of the country.

Though the mechanics of the fund are all worked out, it is hoped to be introduced by the Union Finance Minister, Jaswant Singh, in his budget proposals later this month. are to be implemented As per the proposed scheme, 30 beneficiaries, under each of the categories of assistance, will be identified by the District Collector or the District Magistrate.

Source: Good tidings for children with disabilities,
The Hindu, 21 February 2003, New Delhi