Jharkhand
Pension Benefit to Sickle Cell Anemia Patients
- 20 Jun 2024
- 3 min read
Why in News?
According to the officials, People suffering from sickle cell anemia will get a monthly pension of Rs 1,000 in Jharkhand's Khunti district.
Key Points
- The Khunti district administration has approved pension benefits for persons suffering from sickle cell anemia under Swami Vivekananda Nishakt Swawlamban Protsahan Scheme.
- In the first phase, nine beneficiaries have been identified from different blocks - three each from Khunti and Karra, two from Murhu and one from Torpa block.
- In case any sickle cell case coming to light or identified later on it will be covered under this scheme.
- Sickle cell screening of 99,165 people has been conducted so far in the district.
- Out of which 114 were found to be carriers of sickle cell and a total of 46 persons were found to be suffering from sickle cell anemia-thalassemia disease.
- Among them, nine people who have been suffering from 40% or more sickle cell anemia-thalassemia disease are being given pension under the scheme on the basis of disability certificate.
Swami Vivekananda Nishakta Swavlamban Protsahan Yojana
- It is a scheme launched by the Department of Women, Child Development & Social Security, Government of Jharkhand.
- It aims to provide social security to differently abled people aged five years and above who are in need of financial assistance.
- The scheme operates as a Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) where the pension amount is directly transferred to the bank account of the beneficiary.
Sickle Cell Disease
- Sickle cell disease is a genetic blood disorder characterized by an abnormality in hemoglobin, the protein responsible for carrying oxygen in red blood cells.
- It causes red blood cells to adopt a sickle or crescent shape, hindering their movement through vessels, leading to potential complications like severe pain, infections, anaemia, and strokes.
- In India alone, an estimated 30,000-40,000 children are born with sickle cell disease annually.
Thalassaemia
- Similar to sickle cell disease, individuals with thalassaemia experience severe anaemia due to low haemoglobin levels, necessitating lifelong blood transfusions and chelation therapy to manage iron accumulation.
- Major symptoms include fatigue, paleness or jaundice, shortness of breath, delayed growth, facial bone deformities (in severe cases) among others.
