After the loan waiver scheme for farmers, the Yogi Adityanath government is planning a loan waiver scheme for the physically challenged. Uttar Pradesh has about two crore persons who are physically challenged. The amount that the government would have to pay if it decides to waive loans of physically-challenged persons, is a meagre Rs 3.88 crore.
Om Prakash Rajbhar, UP Minister for Divyangjan Empowerment, said: “There are about 6,821 divyangs (physically challenged) with a debt burden adding up to Rs 3.88 crore. Loans worth Rs 1.60 crore have already been paid by them. We want to waive off the loans of the remaining divyangs like we have done for farmers.” The minister said that the state government planned to make the divyangs self-reliant and financially independent. “We are making efforts to link them with the National Skill Development Mission so that they can start their own ventures and then move towards the MSME (Micro, Small, Medium Enterprises) sector,” he said.
He added that the financial assistance provided to divyangs to start their businesses would be raised from the existing Rs 30,000 to Rs 1 lakh. The state government has already increased the amount of pension given to divyangs from Rs 300 to Rs 500. The marriage fund for divyangs has also been raised from Rs 20,000 to Rs 35,000.
The state government is also toying with a proposal to provide battery-operated tricycles to physically challenged persons. The tricycles would have the provision of attaching a trolley and the rider can use it to sell vegetables or other items. The women in this category would be provided sewing machines.
Elected representatives across the state, including MPs, MLAs and village heads, have been authorised to issue income certificates to divyangs. This will save the divyangs from making the rounds of the tehsil office to get documents.
Moreover, the state government has also allowed physically challenged persons to travel free on Uttar Pradesh State Roadways Transport buses not only within the state, but also outside it.