For the welfare of persons with autism, cerebral palsy, mental retardation and multiple disabilities, Smt. Meira Kumar, the Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment, has made announcement about the launching of a Health insurance scheme, called ‘Nirmaya,’ on March 26.

While lecturing on the occasion, Meira stated that the newly launched scheme will provide assistance to a large number of persons by providing quality medical facilities in their respective regions.

Further, she told that it is a cashless scheme, and the persons need not to pay even a penny for the services offered to them. Besides, the scheme will also cover their hospitalization expenses up to Rs 1 Lakh.

The insurance plan also covers up transport arrangement to the hospital as well as OPD services.

The National Trust will fund the premium of Rs 99 excluding service tax, for the Below Poverty Line persons, whereas the above poverty line persons can also avail this facility by paying the right premium.

Smt. Kumar also declared that the ministry is rolling out the new insurance programme on pilot basis in 10 districts that consists of Central Delhi- Delhi, Kaimur- Bihar, Chandigarh-Haryana, Jabalpur-Madhya Pradesh, Agartala-Tripura, Raeareily -UP, Erode-Tamil Nadu, Ernakulam-Kerala, Ahmedabad-Gujarat and Bhageshwar in Uttarakhand.

Smt. Kumar distributed photo ID cards to the first 20 specially-abled people. .A film on ‘Gyan Prabha Awardees’ was also shown on the occasion.

Subbulakshmi Jagadeesan, the Minister of State for Social Justice & Empowerment, Smt. Poonam Natarajan, Chairperson of National Trust and Smt. Veena Chhotray, the Secretary of SJ&E were also present at the launching function.

The data provided by the World Health Organisation (WHO) showed that around six billion people have a disability and in India alone, there are over 60 million people with disabilities. The launch of such welfare schemes would minimize their woes in many ways.