Pension Benefit to Sickle Cell Anemia Patients | 20 Jun 2024

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.