Parivar urges pension for all differently abled, regardless of family income

Criticism over pension eligibility criteria for differently abled individuals in Kerala prompts calls for reassessment by advocacy group Parivar.

The State’s criteria for pension eligibility for differently abled individuals have come under scrutiny, with many alleging that the current system fails to account for the unique needs of each person. As a result, numerous individuals in need are losing their pensions and are being asked to return previously received amounts.

Parivar, an organisation representing guardians of children with disabilities such as autism, cerebral palsy, intellectual disability, and multiple disabilities, has repeatedly appealed to the State government to reassess the criteria. Recently, the Kozhikode chapter of Parivar passed a motion urging the government to base pension eligibility on the individual income of the differently abled person, rather than the family income.

“The government has come up with this criteria after discovering that several differently abled people continued to receive pensions even after securing government jobs. However, instead of focusing on those cases, the government has started considering the family’s financial status for pension eligibility,” said P. Sikander, vice president of Kozhikode Parivar.

Currently, each differently abled person in the State receives a pension of ₹1,600 per month, of which ₹1,400 is provided by the State government. Many of them rely entirely on their families for survival, as most have no independent income. Without proper rehabilitation plans, they often become a burden on their families. While some have managed to secure government jobs, those with intellectual and severe disabilities often face limited opportunities.

“There are around 8 lakh differently abled people in the State, based on the 2015 Census. Of them, only 1,458 have government jobs. But the government is punishing all the others for the fault of a few,” Mr. Sikander alleged.

Despite multiple appeals to the Minister, Director, and Secretary of the Department of Social Justice, Parivar has yet to receive a response. The organisation is now considering legal action.

“The pension should be provided to all differently abled individuals, regardless of their family’s financial condition. Only those with jobs should be excluded,” Mr. Sikander said, voicing the concerns of Parivar.