CPSEs under dept of disability affairs suffer revenue loss
PremiumNHFDC also saw a sharp decline in the number of beneficiaries from 18,170 in 2019-20 to 8,011 in 2020-21
Covid-19 has dealt a massive blow to the entitlements of the differently abled. Two central public sector enterprises (CPSEs) under the department of disability affairs and an unknown number of state corporations that have been financially hit by the pandemic have been unable to produce or deliver disability aids and appliances.
The two central enterprises are Artificial Limbs Manufacturing Corporation of India (Alimco) and National Handicapped Finance and Development Corporation (NHFDC), according to the annual report of the department.
The face of disability affairs, Alimco aims to benefit the differently abled by promoting and manufacturing reasonably priced rehabilitation aids and supplying them for distribution across the country.
But the CPSE has not been able to provide these items since March 2020.
Alimco supplies wheelchairs, tricycles, crutches and hearing aids.
During financial year 2020-21 till 31 December 2020, the corporation had achieved a turnover or revenue of just ₹139.68 crore (provisional figures) as compared to ₹336.13 crore in financial year 2019-20.
Alimco has five production centres in Bhubaneswar, Jabalpur, Bengaluru, Mohali and Ujjain. The corporation also has five marketing centres in New Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai, Hyderabad and Guwahati.
However, despite efforts to deliver the aids and appliances, the corporations failed due to lockdowns enforced by states to curb the spread of the covid-19 pandemic.
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“The corporation has covered 35,146 beneficiaries (provisional figures up to 31 December 2020) equipment-wise in the financial year 2020-21 under the assistance to disabled persons for purchase/fitting of aids/appliances (ADIP) scheme through 100 camps covering 23 states/Union territories. Due to covid-19, 39,905 appliances, though dispatched to the destination, were stopped from being distributed," said the report.
NHFDC too witnessed a sharp decline in the number of its beneficiaries from 18,170 in 2019-20 to 8,011 in 2020-21.
The corporation promotes self-employment and other ventures for the benefit and economic rehabilitation of the differently abled.
NGOs working for disabled struggled during the covid-19 led lockdowns to function. Udaipur-based Narayan Seva Sansthan, a non-profit charitable organisation working for underprivileged, physically challenged, faced major challenges in procuring these items. Since Covid-19 hit the country, the organisation hosted more than 100 distribution camps for the differently abled.
"The major issues we faced were related to getting the beneficiaries to the camp location and assuring them that they will be completely safe under the supervision of our medical team. These issues were mainly due to the fear of Covid-19 and lack of awareness regarding the protocols," said Prashant Agarwal, president, Narayan seva Sansthan.
Covid-19 has affected one and all but differently-abled people have as usual suffered more than the others. “The impact of covid-19 has been severe on disabled persons. “It is not easy to find jobs as a differently abled person and with unemployment spiking up, many differently abled people have lost their jobs. So, the financial crisis has hit these people very hard and they were in more and more need of any kind of support," said Agarwal.
"With everything locking down on and off their already meagre access to their social life and mobility has decreased. Many of these people have also gone through extensive treatments and surgeries because of their disabilities, or have health issues because of lack in mobility. These issues and/or medical history make them more prone to being affected by the pandemic," he said.
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