New Delhi: In an effort to improve welfare delivery and transparency, chief minister Rekha Gupta on Monday announced the rollout of digital ID cards for persons with disabilities. Gupta said her govt was fully committed to helping the poor, the elderly, and those who receive financial support. She also ordered a review of all existing welfare schemes to ensure aid reached only the truly deserving beneficiaries and those who are not eligible are removed. “Our aim is to establish a robust, inclusive and sensitive support system. We will ensure that no deserving individual is left out, and public funds are used responsibly,” she said. Noting that some schemes had been misused earlier, Gupta pointed to “serious irregularities” in the disbursement of widow pensions during the previous administration’s tenure. “Many women who were not eligible were granted pensions unchecked. Our govt will not allow such malpractice. Those who are truly eligible will receive financial assistance under all circumstances, but those found ineligible will be excluded from these schemes,” she said. Gupta gave the instructions after chairing a meeting at Delhi Secretariat, attended by senior officials from the department of social welfare and the department for the welfare of SC/STs. The meeting focused on reviewing several key welfare schemes aimed at supporting economically and socially marginalised communities. CM said Delhi govt is not only providing financial assistance, but also extending support in the form of rehabilitation, skill development, education and other essential welfare services. For instance, the scheme for senior citizens provides monthly financial aid to individuals aged 60 and above, especially those from SC/ST communities or economically weaker backgrounds. Depending on their age, eligible beneficiaries receive between Rs 2,000 and Rs 2,500 per month. Over four lakh senior citizens have already benefited from the initiative, which is designed to help them live with dignity, she added.Another key initiative, Gupta pointed out, was to provide assistance to persons with disabilities who are unable to support themselves. These individuals are granted Rs 2,500 per month. So far, over 1.3 lakh people have received aid under the scheme, which is aimed to promote their social and economic empowerment, CM said. Moreover, to help families who have lost their primary breadwinner cope with sudden financial hardship, the Delhi Family Benefit Scheme offers a one-time assistance of Rs 20,000, stated the CMO. About 1,100 dependents have been provided aid through this scheme. Additionally, the Support for Marginalised Individuals for Livelihood and Enterprise (SMILE) scheme focuses on rehabilitating those involved in begging by providing essential services like shelter, medical care, counselling, skill training and livelihood opportunities and reintegrate them into mainstream society with dignity and purpose. The meeting also addressed key issues, such as delays in disability certification and digitisation of beneficiary data. CM directed various departments to resolve these challenges swiftly and present a clear action plan for better coordination and service delivery.
