Now Reading: Chandigarh doubles income cap for disability home fee concession
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Chandigarh doubles income cap for disability home fee concession
The Story in Brief
Chandigarh Chief Secretary Hiriadka Rajesh Prasad approved an increase in the annual family income ceiling for a 50% fee concession at the Group Home in Sector-31 from Rs 4 lakh to Rs 8 lakh. The decision was taken at the 5th meeting of the Governing Body of the Utthaan Society of Group Home on Friday, 13 November 2026.
The home's capacity will be raised from 42 to 80, with 20 seats reserved for fee-concession and Economically Weaker Section beneficiaries. The trial stay period for accompanying parents or guardians has been extended to three months, with scope for further extensions. Medical assessments for applicants with intellectual disabilities or Autism Spectrum Disorder will now be conducted on-site, and the assessment period has been reduced from 45 to 30 days. Eligibility for persons with mental illness has been broadened, subject to a minimum 40% benchmark disability.
Weekly visits by psychiatric and medical specialists from GRIID and MHI will ensure regular health monitoring. Parents and guardians may visit residents in their rooms for one to two hours daily between 7:30 AM and 7:30 PM.
Indian Opinion Analysis
The capacity expansion from 42 to 80, paired with a doubled income ceiling for fee concessions, directly increases access for families previously priced out of institutional care. On-site medical assessments and a shorter evaluation window remove logistical hurdles for applicants with intellectual disabilities or autism. The extension of trial stays to three months gives families more time to adjust before committing. Weekly specialist visits from GRIID and MHI address a gap in ongoing health oversight, though the practical impact will depend on how consistently those visits are maintained. The next step is implementation of the new admission and fee waiver criteria by the Group Home administration.
Source: indianewscalling.com
This brief was synthesised by AI from the source linked above. Methodology and corrections.
