06 Dec

Rights of persons with disabilities – Part 2 (Welfare Corner)

Welfare Corner

PWDsFrom aids and appliances, scholarships, awards and monetary benefits to reservations in government jobs and incentives for private employers, the government has rolled out various schemes/programmes to ensure development of the persons with disabilities.

Education
Get detailed information about schemes related to National Scholarships and Integrated Education for persons with disabilities. Downloadable forms are also available.
Scheme of National Scholarships for Persons with Disabilities
Under the Scheme of National Scholarships for Persons with Disabilities every year 500 new scholarships are awarded for pursuing post-matric professional and technical courses of duration more than one year. However, in respect of students with cerebral palsy, mental retardation, multiple disabilities and profound or severe hearing impairment, scholarship are awarded for pursuing studies from IX Std. onwards.
Scheme of Integrated Education for the Disabled Children
The centrally sponsored scheme of Integrated Education for the Disabled Children (revised 1992) is being implemented in States and UTs in over 90,000 schools benefiting over 2,00,000 children with disabilities. The scheme was introduced with a view to providing educational opportunities for children with disabilities in general schools, to facilitate their retention in the school system. It provides for facilities to students with disabilities including expenses on books and stationery, expenses on uniforms, transport allowance, reader allowance, escort allowance, hostel accommodation and actual cost of equipment. The scheme also supports the appointment of special teachers, provision for resource rooms and removal of architectural barriers in schools.

Employment
Information on vocational rehabilitation centres, special employment exchanges for persons with disabilities, reservation in posts and services under the Government of India, etc is available on the website. Details regarding schemes and incentives related to employment and downloadable forms are also given.

Vocational Rehabilitation Centres for Handicapped
Seventeen Vocational Rehabilitation Centres for handicapped (VRCs) have been functioning in the country, one each at Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Bhubaneswar, Bangalore, Kolkata, Delhi, Jaipur, Hyderabad, Jabalpur, Guwahati, Kanpur, Ludhiana, Chennai, Thiruvananthapuram, Vadodara, Agartala and Patna. Out of these, Vocational Rehabilitation Centre at Vadodara has been set up exclusively for handicapped women. These Centres evaluate the residual capacities of the handicapped and provide them training, facilitating their early economic rehabilitation.

Special Employment Exchanges for Physically Handicapped
Employment Exchanges under the the National Employment Service are generally responsible for the placement of physically handicapped. Besides, Special Employment Exchanges have also been set-up for their selective placement.

Reservation
Persons with disabilities (physically handicapped persons) can avail reservation in posts and services under the Government of India.
In case of direct recruitment to Group A, B, C & D posts, 3% of the vacancies shall be reserved for persons with disabilities of which 1% each shall be reserved for persons suffering from (i) blindness or low vision, (ii) hearing impairment and (iii) locomotor disability or cerebral palsy in the posts identified for each disability.
Three percent of the vacancies in case of promotion to Group D, and Group C posts in which the element of direct recruitment, if any, does not exceed 75%, shall be reserved for persons with disabilities of which one per cent each shall be reserved for persons suffering from (i) blindness or low vision, (ii) hearing impairment and (iii) locomotor disability or cerebral palsy in the posts identified for each disability.

Schemes

Scheme of Assistance to Disabled Persons for Purchase / Fitting of Aids and Appliances (ADIP Scheme)
The main objective of the scheme is to assist the needy disabled persons in procuring durable, sophisticated and scientifically manufactured, modern, standard aids and appliances that can promote their physical, social and psychological rehabilitation, by reducing the effects of disabilities and enhance their economic potential. The aids and appliances supplied under the scheme must be ISI.

Deendayal Disabled Rehabilitation Scheme
This scheme promotes voluntary action for persons with disabilities with the objectives to create an enabling environment to ensure equal opportunities, equity, social justice and empowerment of persons with disabilities. The scheme encourages voluntary action for ensuring effective implementation of the People with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities and Protection of Rights) Act of 1995.

Scheme of National Awards for Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities
The Scheme for giving National Awards to the outstanding employers of persons with disabilities as well as the most outstanding employees was approved in 1969. The Government of India has been amending scope of the scheme whenever required keeping in view the changing scenario.
Schemes arising out of the Implementation of the Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act, 1995

Some of the Schemes are given below:

  • Incentives to Employers in the Private Sector for Providing Regular Employment to Persons with Disabilities
  • Models to promote awareness about accessibility features in public buildings
  • Composite Regional Centres for Persons with Disabilities (CRCs)
  • District Disability Rehabilitation Centers (DDRCs)
  • Scheme for providing Employment to Persons with Disabilities in the Private Sector
  • Incentives to the Employers for Providing Employment to Persons with Disabilities in the Private Sector – Incentives to the Employers

Rights of persons with disabilities – Part I (ACTs)

Rights of persons with disabilities – Part 3 (Financial Assistance)

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