Question : Separate Department for Differently Abled

(a) the estimated number of disabled persons in the country, State-wise;

(b) whether there is no separate department in certain States to look after the welfare of differently abled persons;

(c) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor; and

(d) the steps taken by the Government to persuade the States/Union Territories to set up separate department for differently abled persons to address their concerns, issues and problems so that they can be brought into the mainstream of the society?

MINISTER OF STATE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT
(SHRI KRISHANPAL GURJAR)

(a) As per Census 2011, the estimated number of persons with disabilities State/UT-wise in the country is at Annexure.

(b) & (c) As per Information available from the Office of the Chief Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities (O/o CCPD), only 7 States namely; Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Rajasthan, Tamilnadu, Telangana and Uttar Pradesh have separate Department for dealing with matters concerning persons with disabilities. In other States, the issues concerning persons with disabilities are being handled either by the Department of Social Welfare/Social Justice or by the Department of Women and Child Welfare.

(d) CCPD in all its review meetings with the States/UTs continuously emphasizes the need to have separate disability Department in the States/UTs for dealing with matters concerning persons with disabilities. In the 11th National Review Meeting of the State Commissioners for Persons with Disabilities, organized by the O/o CCPD on 13-14 June, 2012, it was also recommended that the States/UTs should have separate Department to deal with matters concerning persons with Disabilities. Further, the CCPD also takes up the matter of separate Department in the States during his meeting with Chief Secretaries of various States.
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