Financial Assistance to Visually Impaired Advocates

Details

To provide financial support to visually impaired advocates in Kerala for purchasing professional materials and hiring reader assistants.

Benefits

A. Ex-Gratia Non-Recurring Grant:

1. ₹3,500/- one-time assistance for books, suits, etc.

B. Reader’s Allowance:

1. ₹5,000/- per month

2. For a period of 10 years

Eligibility

A. Disability Criteria:

1. Visual Impairment of 40% or more (as per RPwD Act, 2016)

B. Professional Criteria:

1. Must be a practicing advocate in any court(s) in Kerala

C. Residential Criteria:

1. Must be a native and resident of Kerala

D. Income Criteria:

1. Combined annual income of the applicant and family should not exceed ₹1,00,000/-

Application Process (Offline)

Submit filled application form and required documents to the Director of Social Justice, Kerala

Documents Required

A. Income Verification:

1. Income Certificate from Village Officer in prescribed format

B. Practice Verification:

1. Certificate from Presiding Officer of the court confirming the applicant’s advocacy practice

C. Disability Proof:

1. Medical Certificate

   • From eye specialist (for visual impairment)

   • From orthopaedic specialist (if applicable)

D. Education & Profession:

1. Educational and professional certificates of:

   • The applicant advocate

   • The reader assistant

2. Certificates must be attested by a Gazetted Officer

E. Reader Assistant Requirement:

1. Reader must have passed at least S.S.L.C.