Bhubaneswar: In a significant relief for people with disabilities, the Odisha government has revised the guidelines of the Bhima Bhoi Bhinnakshama Samarthya Abhiyan (BBSA).
With fresh modifications in the guidelines, the state government has sought to significantly expand the eligibility criteria for assistance.
According to official sources, the revised norms increase the annual family income limit for availing free assistive devices and educational scholarships from Rs 2.40 lakh to Rs 5 lakh in the state.
As per the revised guidelines, persons with disabilities belonging to families with an annual income of up to Rs 5 lakh will be entitled to receive assistive aids and appliances free of cost. Earlier, this benefit was restricted to families earning up to Rs 2.40 lakh annually.
The government has also introduced a revised cost-sharing structure for higher-income groups. Families with an annual income between Rs 5 lakh and Rs 10 lakh will now have to contribute only 25 per cent of the cost of assistive devices, while the remaining amount will be borne by the government. Families with an annual income exceeding Rs 10 lakh will be required to pay 50 per cent of the cost, said sources.
This apart, the income eligibility for post-matric scholarships for children with disabilities pursuing higher education has also been enhanced. The annual family income ceiling has been raised from Rs 2.40 lakh to Rs 5 lakh, enabling more students to benefit from financial assistance.
