Union Budget 2014-15: Finance minister urged to raise income tax slab for disabled people

CHENNAI: Disabled Rights Group (DRG), Delhi, has urged finance minister Arun Jaitley to increase the income tax slab for disabled people and for those who have dependents with disability.

"The cost of living is generally higher for those living with disabilities compared to those without disabilities -- medical expenditure, cost of care-taker, assistive aids, rehabilitation services, home adaptations, transportation and costs on day to day living. The cost of these services have been continuing to increase quite steeply in the recent years," said Javed Abidi, convener of DRG.

The current income tax rebate for people with disabilities happened more than 10 years ago, in 2003, when the deduction was increased from Rs 40,000 to Rs 50,000 for persons with disabilities and those with dependents with disability, and an enhanced deduction of Rs 75,000 was introduced in case of people with severe disability. The deduction in case of people with severe disability was increased to Rs 1,00,000 in 2009.

"Now we want the government to increase the income tax slab from Rs 50,000 to Rs 1,00,000 for persons with disabilities or those who have dependents with disability. And in case of people with severe disability, from Rs 1,00,000 to 2,00,000," said Abidi.