Divyangs to get Rs 3.7 lakh as aid for mobile shops

Mumbai: In a bid to empower differentlyabled ‘divyangs’, the state government will provide financial aid of Rs 3.75 lakh to each differently-abled for mobile shops on wheels. The state Cabinet has approved funds to the tune of Rs 25 crore for this year. Close to 650 differently-abled are set to benefit from the scheme.

According to the state, this decision will help the differently-abled to make them financially sound. The vehicles will be eco-friendly and will operate on green fuel.  

An official of social justice department said that to avail benefit of this scheme, the person should be 40 per cent disabled or more than that.

A committee would be formed under the chairmanship of the managing director of Maharashtra State Handicapped Finance and Development Corporation.

The committee will scrutinise the applications of the diyvang. The corporation will implement this scheme.   

The official added that one of the criteria for selection of the applicant for this scheme is the annual income of the family would be below to Rs 2.5 lakh.

Sources said that the highest beneficiaries would be in districts, which would have large number differently-abled. The state has 30 lakh differently-abled persons.

The state government had announced this scheme in the budget. The mobile shops on wheels can be used for selling of the edibles and retail groceries shops (Kirana shop).

Advanced online system, GPRS, software monitoring and live tracking will be used to monitor the shops.