Gorakhpur : Chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday announced monthly pension for persons with disabilities in UP will be increased once again and reiterated govt’s commitment to ensuring welfare schemes reach the last beneficiary without discrimination.
CM said the state had already increased disability pension from Rs 300 to Rs 500 and later to Rs 1,000 per month, adding that another enhancement would be announced shortly. CM said govt plans to organise camps in every Assembly constituency during 2026-27 to identify and enrol eligible PwDs who are not yet receiving benefits. He added that more than 17 lakh PwDs in the state were identified digitally and issued privilege cards. He also announced that district disability rehabilitation centres would be established across all 18 divisions of the state.
Addressing a distribution programme at Gorakhpur Club, organised jointly by department of empowerment of persons with disabilities and Hindustan Urvarak & Rasayan Ltd, the CM said good governance begins with delivering benefits of govt schemes to those at the bottom of the social ladder. Citing Bhakti Movement blind poet Soordas, mountain climber Arunima Sinha and para athletes Deepa Malik and Sumit Antil, Adityanath said achievement is driven by determination rather than physical ability. Calling education the strongest tool of empowerment, chief minister said UP is the only state with two universities dedicated to higher education for persons with disabilities — Dr Shakuntala Misra National Rehabilitation University in Lucknow and Jagadguru Rambhadracharya Divyanga University in Chitrakoot. Minister of state (independent charge) for backward class welfare and empowerment of persons with disabilities Narendra Kashyap said department’s budget increased substantially over the past nine years and credited state govt with expanding welfare, education and rehabilitation initiatives for PwDs.
He stressed physical challenges should not become barriers to talent and that persons with disabilities need opportunities rather than sympathy. He highlighted measures aimed at improving accessibility, including Braille and audio-based information systems, tactile pathways, sign-language support and accessible digital services.
During the event, Yogi distributed 664 assistive devices to 509 beneficiaries, including motorised tricycles, e-tricycles, smart canes, Braille kits, hearing aids, smartphones and artificial limbs. The programme was held under the ongoing Seva Sankalp Abhiyan marking Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 25 years in public office.