(a) whether the number of handicapped persons has been increasing in the country;
(b) if so, whether the Government propose to set up a monitoring body in every State
to suggest modalities for monitoring the progress made in the economic
rehabilitation of handicapped persons; and
(c) if so, the steps taken by the Government in this regard?
THE MINISTER OF SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT (DR. SATYANARAYAN JATIYA)
(a) Trend in variation of the number of persons with disabilities will be known after
the data regarding incidence of disability collected during the course of census
2001 becomes available.
(b) & (c) the Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and
Full Participation) Act, 1995 provides for a mechanism in the personal of
Commissioners for Persons with Disabilities in the States to coordinate with
departments of State Governments for the programmes and schemes, to monitor
the utilization of funds and to take steps to safeguard the rights and facilities made
available to persons with disabilities. All the State Governments have already
appointed Commissioners for Persons with Disabilities.