Over 400 persons with disabilities receive assistive devices under Delhi govt scheme

More than 400 persons with disabilities have benefited under the Delhi government’s Sugamya Sahayak Scheme in the current fiscal, an official said on Tuesday.

He said around Rs 40 lakh has been spent so far on providing assistive devices such as wheelchairs, motorised tricycles, hearing aids, smartphones, Braille kits and other mobility support.

The Social Welfare Department, which implements the scheme, organised 17 camps across the national capital during 2025-26, including 12 assessment camps and five distribution camps, the official said.

A total of 435 beneficiaries have already received devices, including battery-operated tricycles, manual tricycles, wheelchairs, crutches, walkers, hearing aids, prosthetic limbs and assistive kits for persons with visual impairment.

“The department has also assessed 358 more persons with disabilities who will be covered in distribution camps to be organised in the upcoming weeks,” the official said.

He added that while around Rs 40 lakh has been utilised so far, the government is aiming to spend close to Rs 1 crore under the scheme in the current financial year to reach more beneficiaries.

“There are at least six more camps planned before March 31 to ensure wider coverage across districts,” the official said.

Two assessment camps are also scheduled in the east district – one on February 6 under the Department of Social Welfare Office East office and another on February 11 under the District Social Welfare Office ( DSWO), North East, to identify new beneficiaries for future distribution, he said.

He further said that around 755 assistive devices have been distributed so far during 2025-26, including 86 hearing aids, 26 battery-operated tricycles, 49 wheelchairs of different categories, 34 auxiliary crutches, Braille kits, prosthetic limbs and other mobility aids.

The Sugamya Sahayak Scheme aims to improve mobility, independence and access to education and livelihood opportunities for persons with benchmark disabilities by providing durable and standardised assistive devices.

Under the scheme, beneficiaries must have a disability of 40 per cent or more as certified under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, and be residents of Delhi. The annual family income should not exceed Rs 8 lakh.

Motorised tricycles are provided to persons with severe disabilities such as quadriplegia, muscular dystrophy, cerebral palsy and stroke with disability of 80 per cent or above, once every three years and for those aged above 16.

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Hand-propelled tricycles and wheelchairs are provided to other eligible beneficiaries under similar timelines.

Beneficiaries are required to submit an undertaking that they have not received similar assistance earlier. Persons with severe mental impairment are not eligible for motorised mobility devices due to safety concerns, he said.

The official said the steady turnout at camps reflects growing awareness about disability support services and the need for accessible infrastructure across the city.