(a) whether the Government has allocated any special funds for disabled women in the country; and
(b) if so, whether the Government has not yet allocated a specific amount toward the needs of disabled women as guaranteed under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 and if so, the reasons therefor?
MINISTER OF STATE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT
(SUSHRI PRATIMA BHOUMIK)
(a) & (b) Relief to the disabled is a State subject by virtue of entry 9 of the Constitution of India. Further, the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act, 2016, mandate the appropriate Government and local authorities to take measure to ensure that women and children with disabilities enjoy their rights equally with others. Further, Section 37 of the said Act provides 5% reservation in allotment of agriculture land and housing as well as in all poverty alleviation and developmental schemes for persons with benchmark disabilities with priority to women with benchmark disabilities. The Act does not specifically lay down any mandatory provision for separate allocation of funds for women with disabilities. The schemes of the Ministry are equally applicable to both men and women with disabilities. However, in some of the schemes such as Scholarship schemes of Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities for Pre-matric, Post-matric, Top Class Education and National Fellowship component, 50% slots are earmarked for women students with disabilities and 30% slots are earmarked for them under National Overseas Scholarship component. Similarly under National Action Plan (NAP) for Skill Development of Persons with Disabilities it is envisaged to cover at least 30% women with disabilities. Under Assistance to Disabled Persons for Purchase/Fitting of Aids and Appliances (ADIP) scheme it is also envisaged to cover at least 25% of women with disabilities.
*****