Budget 2013: Disabled, elderly get helping hand

NEW DELHI: The Budget put the spotlight on the handicapped and elderly who are emerging as pressure groups leading the charge for inclusive policy-making, hitherto limited to caste and religious minorities.
Finance minister P Chidambaram catered to the sentiment of ‘empowerment’ when he announced an increase in funds from Rs 75 crore to Rs 110 crore for the scheme to give aid devices to the disabled.He also announced Rs 150 crore for development of dedicated geriatric departments under the national programme for healthcare of elderly (run by the health ministry).
The hike of Rs 1,600 crore for the social justice ministry is seen as a boost for empowerment of dalits, backwards, elderly and the handicapped. The social justice ministry carved out a department of disability affairs last year to cater to a group that the 2001 Census estimated at 2.1% of the country’s population.
Union Budget 2013
Budget news 2013
Economic Survey