ആശ്വാസകിരണം ( KSSM )

ASWASAKIRANAM

Aswasa Kiranam Scheme envisages assisting the care givers of Physically and Mentally disabled bed-ridden patients, who are family members or relatives of the bedridden patients, as these caregivers are not in a position to take up employment for self sustenance.The scheme intends to provide a monthly assistance of Rs.525/- to care givers of all bed-ridden patients who needs a full-time care giver.The scheme came into effect from 01/01/10 and all those who have been providing care giving service to patients since 01/01/10 will be paid monthly assistance with retrospective effect. This is apart from the pension given to the patient.

Coverage of diseases 

(1) All bed-ridden patients who need a full-time caregiver.

(2) Mentally challenged- (Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Mental retardation, Mental illness).

(3) 100 % blind, Bed-ridden cancer patients, old-aged bed-ridden (4) Brittle bone disease.

Kerala is a State which is well known for the efficient and effective health care system. Despite these advancements, much headway could not be made in the area of home care. Home treatment is mainly taken by the lowest income group. Since they cannot afford to treat the patients in hospitals most of these patients are treated at home. They are bedridden causing a heavy social burden on their family members who are forced to stay back at home to look after these bedridden patients. While the upper income group can possibly afford to engage paid care –givers or home nurses for looking after such bedridden family members, the lower income group usually take it upon themselves to care for their bedridden brethren. These family members in fact function as informal care-givers, without due recognition or economic gain.

These results in loss of gainful employment or productive income for those informal care-givers who are forced to stay back home and look after their bedridden family members. This in turn results in economic loss for the entire family as one or more members cannot seek gainful employment outside their homes.

It is in this context that the present scheme to provide a source of income in the form of a monthly assistance of Rs 525 for these informal care-givers is launched.

Under this scheme the Patient eligible is the

• One who is totally bed-ridden and at home with debilitating disability (physical, functional or mental) above 80%
• One who cannot take care of himself / herself for any day to day activity without a support of another person
• One who belongs to family living below Poverty Line as per BPL list of concerned Local Self Government and as per ration card status
• One who is eligible for disability pension under the Indira Gandhi National Disability Pension Scheme (IGNDPS) of Government of India.
• Endosulfan affected victims who are totally debilitated. 

The physically & Mentally bed ridden patients should have at least a valid Medical certificate / ID Card issued by a competent medical board under the PWD ACT. 

Care Givers should be

• A family member or close relative, who is unemployed without any source of income and who is at home to take care of the bed-ridden patient.
• Should belong to a family living Below Poverty Line as per records of the concerned Local Self Government and ration card.
• Should not be getting any monetary returns or remuneration for the service rendered.
• One who receives any welfare pension under Central/State government will also be eligible. 

Eligibility

• Only `care- givers’ as per the above definition, taking care of `patients’ as described in the definition of patients will be eligible for assistance.
• Paid care givers/ home nurses will not be eligible for assistance.
• Care givers in institutions/ NGO run Homes etc. who are providing care services to bed-ridden patients on honorary basis will also not be eligible for assistance under this scheme.
• The assistance will be stopped when the care giver stops caring for the patient or dies. 

Kerala Social Security Mission will release the amount to the identified care givers on a monthly basis through electronic Money Order, while the Life Certificate of patient and proof of presence of care givers will be given to the P.O./ Bank by the Anganwadi worker duly certified by the concerned ICDS Supervisor, once in 6 months.

The assistance to care-givers will be over and above the pension granted to such bed-ridden patients. Thus a family can become eligible for an assistance of Rs. 525.

The assistance will be stopped immediately on receiving intimation on the death of either the patient or the care giver.

• Beneficiary List
• Click here to view the list of Care-givers who are eligible for assistance every month
• Application Form Download
• Doctor's Certificate
• Financial Aid for Aswasakiranam Scheme Beneficiaries-Bank Account Details reg.