Physically handicapped persons in the State are disappointed on the unsympathetic attitude of the Government towards their long pending request of enhancement of their pension. They have been waiting for a long time and hoping that the Government would take very positive notice of their case. It has not happened and what is worst is that the subject has thrown up the unfortunate spectacle of lack of coordination between two departments, namely Finance and Social Welfare.
The complex situation for the Government and for the handicapped persons has arisen because of the announcement of the Minister for Social Welfare on the floor of the Legislative Assembly that the Government is committed to enhancing the pension of handicapped persons with more than 60 % disability to rupees one thousand per month. When the case was referred by the Department of Social Welfare to the Finance Department, the latter has taken refuge behind the financial crunch visiting the State. It has noted that owing to lack of adequate financial resources, the State Government is unable to bear the expenditure on this head which would be to the tune of rupees 275 crore per annum. The Finance Department has argued that the State Government is in poor financial health, and is running Budgetary deficit of about Rs 4600 crore and power liability of Rs 7000 crore.
Why did not the Department of Social Welfare consult the Finance Department before the Minister made announcement on the floor of the House? Making the announcement but failing to carry it through is tantamount to misleading the House.
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