Comprehensive insurance for persons with disabilities

Thiruvananthapuram: An insurance scheme, issuing Universal Disability ID Card (UDID) and setting up Model Child Rehabilitation Centres are some of the key programmes announced by the State government Wednesday to tackle problems faced by persons with disabilities.

Main objective of the project titled 'Anuyatra', a comprehensive life cycle approach in disabilities, is to have an effective intervention, provide physical training and rehabilitation to differently abled persons, State Health and Social Welfare Minister K K Shaylaja told reporters here.

Aim of the government is to make Kerala a Disability Friendly state, she said.

The schemes would be implemented by Kerala Social Security Mission.

An amount of Rs 69 crore was now with the Social Welfare Department for implementing the programmes, she said, adding, it would be commissioned in a phased manner in the coming days.

In the first phase one lakh persons with disabilities would be enrolled in the insurance scheme.

Centre would bear 90 per cent of the premium amount and remaining by the state, she said.

All the persons with disabilities would be included in the scheme, she said, adding, as per a recent survey there were more than seven lakh people in the state with different types of disabilities.

Steps had already started for the distribution of UDID cards for easy delivery of services to them, she said.

Twentyeight Model Child Rehabilitation Centres would be set up across the state with staff specialises in diagnosis, assessment, and intervention related to disorders affecting development, she said.

'Sruthitharangam', the Cochlear Implantation Scheme, intended to provide free surgery to children in the age-group of 0-3 years would be strengthened with additional features, she said.

A massive campaign would be launched as part of the programme to create awareness in the people from steps to prevent disabilities and sustainable rehabilitation, she said.