While rules in India make such social security system available only to unemployed disabled persons (unlike many other countries), the Delhi Cabinet gave its nod to extend the relief to mentally challenged unemployed persons, too.

The government has fixed approximately Rs 500 per person per month as the unemployment benefit amount.

Officials said unemployment dole has not been implemented in the Capital till date.

Relaxing the Centre’s rules further, the Delhi Cabinet has said a disabled person simply needs to register with the Special Employment Exchange to avail of this social security benefit. The Centre’s policy says a disabled person can get the benefit only after he/she has been registered with the Special Employment Exchange for two years.

The Cabinet has directed Delhi Health department to develop norms to provide dole to the mentally challenged. Unlike physically challenged, the next kin of mentally challenged people would receive the money.

Javed Abidi, of the National Centre for Promotion of Employment for Disabled People, said: “It is a very welcome move if the government has indeed included the mentally challenged (to get unemployment benefits). This is a sector often neglected by governments.”

About the benefit amount, he said, “The dole money is not bad, though the government could have done better.” Abidi called Haryana and Goa as “model states” so far as this system is concerned: “They provide a dole of Rs 1,000 per month. But most states in the country have not even considered bringing in the system, so this (decision) is laudable on part of the Delhi government.”