Delhi Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj announced on Tuesday that the Delhi government has approved a monthly financial assistance scheme of Rs 5,000 for disabled persons with highly specialized needs. The scheme, targeting individuals with over 60% disability, was decided during a recent Cabinet meeting.
“We will soon begin the registration process for those who have more than 60% disability as certified by their doctors,” Bharadwaj stated during a press conference in Delhi.
Bharadwaj clarified that he does not believe the scheme requires approval from the Lieutenant Governor (LG) of Delhi, as it involves public funds intended for the welfare of specially-abled individuals. “If required, we will send it to the LG, but the money belongs to the elected government,” he added.
According to the 2011 census, there are approximately 2.34 lakh specially-abled persons in Delhi, of which around 9,500 to 10,000 have high needs and will be eligible for the assistance.
During the press briefing, Bharadwaj also responded to a recent tweet by Delhi LG VK Saxena, who shared images of toxic froth in the Yamuna River. Saxena urged authorities to focus on providing relief to Delhi’s residents, particularly ahead of Chhath Puja.
Bharadwaj criticized the LG’s post, suggesting he should share pictures from his recent visit to Goa instead of focusing solely on negative imagery of Delhi’s pollution.
Ahead of the 2025 Assembly elections, Bharadwaj reiterated AAP’s 2020 promise to clean the Yamuna by 2025. In the 2020 polls, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) won 62 out of 70 seats, while the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) secured eight, and Congress failed to win any seats.
