Mangaluru: While demanding removal of the income criteria for paying monthly stipend, the Dakshina Kannada and Udupi District Association of Differently Abled on Sunday sought increase in the quantum of stipend from ₹ 500 to ₹ 2,500.

In a memorandum given to MP Nalin Kumar Kateel, the Association’s President Muralidhar Nayak said unlike Karnataka where the differently abled were receiving stipend of ₹ 500, the Kerala Government was giving ₹ 2,000. For getting this stipend, the differently abled person has to produce income certificate to show that his/her annual income was less than ₹ 12,000.

Mr. Nayak said the State Goverment should remove this income criteria and increase the monthly stipend to ₹ 2,500.

Among the other demands included scrapping of the system of discriminating differently abled persons on the basis of percentage of disability. The differently abled persons were classified between those with disability between 25 and 75 % and those with more than 75 % disability. “This leads to doctor certifying some with less disability as more than 75 % and some with more disability as less than 75 per cent.” Mr. Nayak said the State should revise norms and provide facilities to all those whose disability was more than 40 %.

The Association also demanded filling of backlog of posts reserved for differently abled persons. It also demanded proper implementation of The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act 2016. The Association said there should be representation for differently abled persons in all committees formed for implementation of development programmes. The Association demanded scrapping of the rule limiting free bus pass to differently abled persons to 100 km.

Receiving the list of the demands, Mr. Kateel assured of his support for the Association’s fight towards fulfilling of their demands.

Earlier the association held its 26th annual meeting in which it provided scholarship to 40 differently abled children. The association also presented medical aid cheques to 20 differently abled persons.