Civic body to help differently abled citizens buy 3-wheelers

Mumbai: The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has decided to lend a helping hand to disabled persons in the city by offering them three-wheeler scooters.

The civic body will provide financial aid to help buy three-wheelers.

According to civic officials, the civic body will spend Rs 56,000 for every beneficiary of this scheme.

The amount has been determined by adding expenses of side wheels to the cost of a Honda Activa scooter.

The civic body 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 the commodity and subsidy will be deposited directly into his/her bank deposit.”

Under the scheme, the beneficiary can buy any brand of scooter and attach side wheels from any service centre. However, the vehicle and assembly of side wheels must comply with standards set by the Regional Traffic Office

(RTO). The purchased vehicle should also have a registration certificate from the RTO.

Apart from the subsidy, the beneficiary will not be liable to get any additional benefit.

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.

 The senior official said, “After being sanctioned financial aid, beneficiaries will have to purchase the vehicle within a stipulated time and fix side wheels.

After registering the vehicle with the RTO, beneficiaries will have to submit documents and receipts to the planning department,” said the officials