(a) Whether the Government has taken steps to ensure basic amenities for the Divyang to enable them to reach Covid-19 hospitals for testing, quarantine and treatment;
(b) If so, the details of the said facilities;
(c) whether any steps have been taken by the Government for destitute/beggars/homeless during the lockdown; and
(d) If so, the details thereof, State-wise?
MINISTER OF STATE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT
(SHRI KRISHANPAL GURJAR)
(a) to (b): Relief to Divyangjan is a State subject by virtue of entry ‘9’ of the State list of the Constitution of India. Government in 2014 has written to the States/UTs to frame suitable schemes exclusively to take care of homeless persons with intellectual disabilities to enable them live a dignified life. Further, advisory has been issued to States/UTs on 24.04.20 to ensure basic features of accessibility for Divyangjan at COVID-19 hospitals for testing, quarantine and treatment.
(c) & (d): Government had identified ten cities for Pilot project of Comprehensive Rehabilitation of Persons engaged in the Act of Begging. Taking into consideration the circumstances facing the country in the wake of COVID 19, the Municipal Corporations of these 10 cities were requested to set up feeding centers for providing cooked food for the persons engaged in beggary. As per information available, 1.27 Crore persons have been provided cooked food in these cities
Government through National Backward Classes Finance & Development Corporation (NBCFDC) disbursed subsistence allowance to 5,711 Transgender persons (TGs) @Rs.1500/- per person directly into their accounts and also provided ration kit to 1,229 transgender persons during COVID-19 lockdown. The State-wise details are attached at Annexure-I and Annexure-II.
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