Question : REHABILITATION OF PHYSICALLLY MENTALLY CHALLENGED

(a) the details of the existing schemes for the education, training and rehabilitation of the physically challenged/mentally retarded persons in the country along with the financial assistance provided and the works undertaken thereunder during each of the last three years and the current year, scheme and State-wise;

(b) the number of beneficiaries during the aforesaid period, State-wise;

(c) whether the Government has conducted any study regarding the number and condition of physically challenged/mentally retarded persons who have nobody to take care of them and if so, the details and the outcome thereof;

(d) whether the Government, in consultation with the, Health and Family Welfare and State Governments proposes to launch a special welfare and rehabilitation programme for such persons in the country;

(e) if so, the details and the present status thereof; and

(f) the time by which an action plan/ programme for the overall rehabilitation of the physically challenged/ mentally retarded persons is likely to be implemented in the country?

MINISTER OF STATE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT (SHRI SUDARSHAN BHAGAT)

(a) & (b): Welfare of persons with disabilities is primarily a State subject by virtue of Entry 9 of Schedule VII of the Constitution of India. Further, the Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act, 1995 casts responsibilities also on the State Governments to frame schemes/programmes for the empowerment of PwDs. However, the Central Government on its part supplements the efforts of the States in the area of rehabilitation and welfare of Persons with Disabilities. Important schemes of the Department of Disability Affairs in this regard are:

Deendayal Disabled Rehabilitation Scheme (DDRS) : Provides financial 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.

Assistance to Disabled Persons for Purchase/Fitting of Aids/ Appliances (ADIP) : Provides assistance to Implementing Agencies for providing aids and appliances to persons with disabilities. Such aids and appliances are provided either free or with 50% subsidy.

Scholarship schemes Rajiv Gandhi National Fellowship scheme for Students with Disabilities (RGNF), to pursue M.Phil/Ph.D courses.

In addition, National Handicapped Finance and Development Corporation (NHFDC), a corporation under the Ministry provides financial assistance in the form of concessional loans to the PwDs for self employment and higher education.

Another autonomous body namely, National Trust for the Welfare of Persons with Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Mental Retardation and Multiple Disabilities (National Trust), implements various schemes for providing support to the Persons with Disabilities suffering from autism, cerebral palsy, mental retardation and multiple disabilities. Some of its important schemes are:-

(i) Aspiration- Early Intervention Program (Day Care Centre) : for school readiness by early intervention 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) Gyan Prabha (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) 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) Uddyam Prabha 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) Health Insurance Scheme `NIRAMAYA`: provides affordable health insurance to persons with Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Mental Retardation and Multiple Disabilities The insurance covers upto 1.00 lakh per beneficiary for pre and post hospitalization expenses ranging from regular medical check-up, therapy to corrective surgery, transportation etc

Details of the financial assistance provided under the schemes of the Department (DDRS, ADIP & RGNF), NHFDC (loan scheme) and National Trust (Samarth), alongwith number of beneficiaries State-wise and year-wise are at Annexures I to V respectively.

(c) As per census 2011, there are 2.68 crore persons with disabilities in the country out of which the number of mentally retarded persons is 15,05,624. The Ministry has not conducted any separate survey regarding the conditions of living of persons with disabilities.

(d) to (f)): Rehabilitation of PwDs is an ongoing process . The Ministry has envisaged a number of new schemes during XII Five Year Plan to fill up the gaps in respect of persons with physical disabilities and mental disabilities keeping in view their unique requirement. However, no definite time frame in this regard could be envisaged.