Disabled to get subsidy on scooters

Mumbai: The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has decided to provide a financial aid to disabled persons in the city for the purchase of scooter with rear side wheels. The civic body has invited applications from eligible disabled people until November 30.

According to civic officials, under the civic body’s poverty eradication programme, it has been proposed to implement the scheme for disabled persons. The aid will be provided from the BMC three per cent funds reserved for disabled people.

The civic body will spend Rs 56,000 for every beneficiary of this scheme. It will provide 75 per cent of the entire cost to the beneficiary. Around 1,071 disabled persons will be benefited from the scheme, for which the civic body has made a provision of Rs 6 crore in the budget.

A senior civic official said, “According to the state government’s amended policy, the benefit will be handed over directly. Under this, instead of providing a commodity, the beneficiary will be asked to buy it and subsidy will be deposited directly into his or her bank deposit.”

Under the scheme, the beneficiary can buy any brand of scooter and attach side wheels from any service centre.

The scheme will be applicable to any inhabitant within the BMC jurisdiction and within the age group of 18 to 60 years with 40 per cent or more disability.

The beneficiary should have a driving license and the family income should not be more than Rs 3 lakh.