Shahin Bepari Lambe
Panaji
The Department for Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD) has implemented the High Support Needs Scheme, which provides a one-time grant of Rs 40,000 every five years to eligible persons with disabilities assessed as having high support needs.
The scheme was implemented in 2025 and is open to any person with a disability assessed as requiring high support. To qualify, a beneficiary must receive a minimum score of 60 per cent in the High Support Needs assessment conducted by any of the state’s Medical Boards. Eligibility is determined based on the level of dependency assessed by the Medical Board.
The assessment is separate from the disability percentage mentioned in a disability certificate. The Medical Board follows specific guidelines notified by the Ministry and recommends eligible beneficiaries to the department.
The Rs 40,000 grant can be used for education, medicines, assistive needs, medical expenses or any other support required by the beneficiary.
More than 51 beneficiaries have received assistance under the scheme so far. The income eligibility criterion is under the Economically Weaker Section (EWS) category, with an annual family income limit of Rs 8 lakh.
Awareness about the scheme has been created through outreach programmes in special schools. Beneficiaries first approach one of the Medical Boards, where the complete assessment is carried out. The Medical Board then sends the recommended applications to the department for processing. There is no age limit under the scheme. The department said beneficiaries so far include children as young as three years and a 60-year-old person who used the grant for medical expenses.
Director of the Department for Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities Varsha Naik said the scheme was aimed at addressing the immediate requirements of persons with disabilities, including specialised assistive devices, medical treatment, education, therapy and other essential support.
Naik said the scheme assessed the extent of dependency and support required by an individual rather than relying solely on the disability percentage mentioned in a disability certificate. She said the Medical Boards’ assessment helped identify people requiring a higher level of support.
Naik said more than 51 beneficiaries had already received assistance and that families were using the grant for specialised medical care, educational expenses and equipment that may not be available under existing aid programmes.
She said eligible persons with disabilities and their families should undergo the High Support Needs assessment through the designated Medical Boards and avail themselves of the scheme.
