(a) the total number of disabled children in the country;
(b) the total number of disabled out of them who have got education;
(c) whether the Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act, 1995 is not being implemented to achieve its goal; and
(d) if so, the steps taken/being taken by the Union and State Governments to ensure effective implementation of the Act to benefit the disabled children?
MINISTER OF SOCIAL JUSTICE & EMPOWERMENT ( SMT. MEIRA KUMAR)
(a) to (d) A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.
Statement referred to in the reply to Lok Sabha Starred Question No. 328 for answer on 23.12.2004 put forth by Dr. M. Jagannath and Shri Eknath M. Gaikwad, regarding `Education to Disabled Children`.
(a): According to the National Sample Survey Report No.485 entitled `Disabled Persons in India` based on the 58th Round survey conducted during July to December 2002, estimated number of children with disabilities in the age group of 05-18 years is 44.5 lakhs.
(b) According to the survey report, estimated number of children who are literate, educated upto primary, middle, secondary, higher secondary and diploma is 25.50 lakhs.
(c) & (d) The Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act, 1995 casts obligations on the appropriate Government and local authorities to provide children with disabilities composite free educational services.
The following steps are being taken for education of children with disabilities:
a) The Constitution was amended in December, 2002 for making free and compulsory education, a Fundamental Right for all children in the age group of 6-14 years. Accordingly, a national programme for Universal Elementary Education viz. Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) was launched by the M/o Human Resource Development. It has the goal of eight years of elementary schooling for all children including children with disabilities in the age-group of 6-14 years by 2010. Under the scheme, a shelf of education options, learning aid and tool, mobility assistance, support services etc. are available for children with disabilities. Likewise augmentation of teaching skills and capabilities of teachers are also made available under the scheme.
b) The Department of Education undertakes a Scheme for the Integrated Education of the Disabled Children (IEDC) through Education Departments of the State Governments, Autonomous Bodies and Voluntary Organisations. Under the scheme of IEDC 100% financial assistance is provided for transport facility, books and stationery, uniform, instructional material, assistive equipments, readers facility for the visually handicapped, attendant facility for the children with locomotor disability, special teacher facilities, hostel facility for disabled children in the school campus, removal of architectural barriers in schools etc.
c) The Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment supports 657 institutions for running early intervention programmes, special education programmes, vocational training programmes, teachers training programmes in special education, etc.
d) National Trust for the welfare of Persons with Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Mental Retardation and Multiple Disabilities provides training to care-givers for imparting home-based life-skill training to the children with severe and profound disabilities.
e) Rehabilitation Council of India has recognized training programmes for the training of master trainers for teachers in primary schools as a part of Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA). It has also recognized B.Ed.(Special Education) for training of teachers in special schools. This programme is implemented through National Institutes, private institutions and through distance learning.
f) Scholarship is provided to the children with mental retardation and Cerebral Palsy under the Scheme of National Welfare Fund.
g) Funds are provided for fitment of Aids and Appliances to the children with disabilities covered under SSA.
h) All the textbooks prescribed by NCERT have been printed in Braille for children with visual disabilities.
i) The Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment in pursuance of the provisions of Section 30 of the Persons with Disabilities Act, 1995 has notified guidelines on 4.11.2004 for the preparation of education scheme for persons with disabilities for implementation by the Central Ministries, organizations and autonomous bodies under their control. These guidelines have also been circulated to the State Governments for suitable adoption keeping in view their local requirements.