No Aasara for the disabled

When Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao announced that pensions for the disabled were being enhanced to Rs 1,500 under the Aasara scheme, there was joy among the disabled community. But the euphoria was to be short-lived as the procedure was complicated and tedious; the disabled had to wait in long queues at the camps that were organised for receipt of the applications.

• Official lethargy delays process
• Collector sets Monday deadline

Though the application and scrutiny process was completed months ago, not even a penny was disbursed as the Sadarem (Software for Assessment of Disabled for Access Rehabilitation and Empowerment) certificates remain elusive and the beneficiaries have no inkling about the same.

Out of the applications received, the doctors of Osmania, Gandhi, ENT, King Koti and Sarojini Devi hospitals conducted various disability related tests on 21,657 people of which 20,543 were identified as the beneficiaries. However, the inadvertent delay in updating the database and disbursal of certificates has left the beneficiaries high and dry.

Reportedly, Hyderabad Collector K Nirmala held a meeting with the data entry operators and the doctors and flayed them over the delay. Talking tough, the Collector warned against further laxity. “This is a prestigious welfare scheme that has been initiated by the State Government.

Due to the delay in the process, we are unable to disburse the pensions. Directions were given to the concerned officials so that the data entry works would be accomplished by Monday. Disbursal of certificates will follow soon. We are both answerable and accountable.”