PANAJI
The Goa government has launched a High-Support Disability Scheme offering a one-time Rs 40,000 grant for persons with benchmark disabilities needing intensive support, making Goa the first state in the country to introduce dedicated financial assistance for individuals with high support needs.
Speaking at the launch, Social Welfare Minister Subhash Phal Desai said the initiative aims to provide meaningful support to persons with benchmark disabilities who require high levels of assistance. “Individuals with benchmark disabilities who require high support will receive Rs 40,000 over a period of five years,” he said. “Beneficiaries have complete freedom to utilise the aid as needed.”
He explained that the assistance can be used for assistive devices, personal care support, or educational and vocational training needs, and that applicants must be Goa residents from families earning under Rs 8 lakh a year. “Parents or guardians must obtain a High Support Need Certificate from North Goa District Hospital, South Goa District Hospital, GMC, or IPHB,” he added.
The Minister cautioned that “any misuse or false declaration will lead to cancellation and recovery of the assistance,” noting that the scheme may be availed once every five years. He said assistance for three beneficiaries has already been sanctioned, with many more applications under process. “Beyond this, additional support devices will also be provided, with no restrictions on such support,” he added, clarifying that recipients of wheelchairs or monthly pensions under other schemes will continue to remain eligible.
State Commissioner for Persons with Disability, Guru Prasad Pawaskar, said this is the first scheme rolled out by the newly formed department. “The department is nearly fully functional, and this scheme was proposed and implemented promptly,” he said. Highlighting the flexibility of the scheme, he noted, “This scheme is significant because it does not restrict usage solely to aids and appliances.” Pawaskar added that the amount may also be used for therapeutic interventions such as physiotherapy or speech therapy, or for vocational assistance. “If someone wishes to start a small business, the amount can be utilised for that purpose as well,” he said.
Pawaskar also shared updates from the Divyang Rath mobile unit, which recently attended to a youth from Canacona diagnosed with spastic cerebral palsy. “The department provided therapeutic interventions and, with the help of the UDID Aadhaar card agency, began physiotherapy and occupational therapy within 12 hours of receiving the case,” he said. He added that the department currently attends to 40“50 patients through home-based services for senior citizens, providing physiotherapy and other therapies across Goa free of cost.
On data collection, Minister Phal Desai said the department’s survey was in progress but has been paused following government directions under the SIR (Special Intensive Revision). “Once the SIR is completed, we will begin our own house-to-house data collection,” he said, urging NGOs and associations to spread the word so the information reaches all eligible individuals
