MINSTER OF SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT (SHRI THAAWAR CHAND GEHLOT)
(a) to (e): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.
Statement referred to in reply to parts (a) to (e) of the Lok Sabha Starred Question No. 394 for answer on 05.08.2014 by Prof.Saugata Roy regarding `Welfare of Mentally Retarded Persons`.
(a):The primary responsibility for programmes for the welfare of persons with disabilities, including persons with physical and mental disabilities, lies with the State Government as per entry No.9 in the “State List”. However, the Department of Disability Affairs supplements the efforts of the States in the rehabilitation and welfare of Persons with Disabilities.
Under the Central Sector Deendayal Disabled Rehabilitation Scheme (DDRS), financial assistance is provided to Non-governmental organizations for providing various services to persons with disabilities like special schools for mentally retarded children, vocational training centres, project for cerebral palsied children, pre-school and early intervention & training, half-way homes for psycho-rehabilitation of treated and controlled mentally ill persons etc.
Under the Scheme of Assistance to Disabled Persons for Purchase/Fitting of Aids/ Appliances (ADIP), assistance is provided to Implementing Agencies for providing aids and appliances to persons with disabilities.
National Handicapped Finance and Development Corporation (NHFDC) is providing financial assistance in the form of concessional loans to the PwDs for self employment and higher education.
In addition, there are educational scholarship schemes like Rajiv Gandhi National Fellowship scheme for Students with Disabilities (RGNF), scholarship schemes under National Fund and Trust Fund.
National Trust for the Welfare of Persons with Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Mental Retardation and Multiple Disabilities (National Trust) has been implementing various schemes for providing support to the Persons with Disabilities suffering from autism, cerebral palsy, mental retardation and multiple disabilities to enable them to lead independent life. Some of the important schemes are:-
(i) Aspiration- Early Intervention Program (Day Care Centre) for school readiness by early intervention has been conceived for children upto 6 years of age with ‘Developmental Disability’.
(ii) Samarth (Residential Care Scheme) provides short term and long term stay facilities for adults and destitute children.
(iii) GyanPrabha (Scholarship Scheme) provides scholarship of Rs. 1000/- per month for pursuing vocational training/ professional courses leading to skill development and employment for Persons with Disabilities.
iv)Under Sahyogi scheme, Care Givers Cell (CGCs) have been set up in selected NGO Centres across the Country to provide Care Givers Training Programme by trained professionals.
(v) Under the UddyamPrabha scheme, persons with disabilities covered under the National Trust Act, are given interest subsidy upto 5% in case of BPL and 3% in case of others on availing loan from banks or financial institutions for income generating ventures.
vi) A health insurance scheme `NIRAMAY` for persons with Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Mental Retardation and Multiple Disabilities provides affordable health insurance to these persons with disabilities. The insurance covers upto 1.00 lakh per beneficiary for pre and post hospitalization expenses ranging from regular medical checkup, therapy to corrective surgery, transportation etc.
vii)Association for Rehabilitation under National Trust Initiative of Marketing (ARUNIM) is a Marketing Federation which works towards economic empowerment of persons with moderate to severe disabilities employed in sheltered/supported work environments. Its key objective is to facilitate livelihood and capacity building through the promotion of market driven products and services.
(b): As per census 2001, there were 22,63,821 persons with mental disabilities in the country. The census figure 2001 did not provide separate data with respect to mentally retarded persons. However, census data 2011 indicates separate data for mentally retarded persons as well as persons with mental illness in the country which are 15,05,624 and 7,22,826 respectively.
(c): National Trust provides support and safety nets for various categories of disabled persons with diminished family support through two residential schemes namely Samarth (for short term and long term stay) and GHARAUNDA (for life long shelter and care for adult persons). Financial assistance is also provided by National Trust under its various schemes for the welfare of persons with disabilities to run its aforesaid programmes.
(d)& (e):. Funds released under various schemes during the last three years and current year is as follows:-
(Rs. in crores) Scheme 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15(as on 31.7.2014) DDRS 86.28 46.99 63.64 6.78 ADIP 75.99 70.66 95.36 19.86 RGNF 9.65 2.00 NHFDC(loan 50.86 69.59 75.82 8.55 disbursement) National Trust 3.87 4.10 4.59 1.04 Schemes#
#SAMARTH, ASPIRATION, NIRMAYA, ARUNIM, SAHYOGI & SAMBHAV
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