(a) whether the Government has conducted/proposes to conduct any special study to identify the provisions being faced by the differently abled persons in the country;
(b) if so, the details thereof ; and
(c) the manner in which the needs of the differently abled persons are being fulfilled?
MINISTER OF STATE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT
(SHRI KRISHANPAL GURJAR)
(a) No Sir.
(b) Does not arise in view of answer to (a) above.
(c) The Government enacted Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act (RPwD Act), 2016 which provides various rights and entitlements for PwDs. It also provides for not less than 4% reservation in Govt. establishments and 5% reservation in Govt./Govt. aided higher educational institutions for persons with benchmark disabilities (i.e. disability of 40% or more). The Central Government supplements the efforts of the State Govt. through various schemes & programmes for empowerment of PwDs. Some of the major schemes are as follows:
Deen Dayal Disabled Rehabilitation Scheme (DDRS) under which grant-in-aid is provided to NGOs/voluntary organisations for projects relating to rehabilitation of persons with disabilities, aimed at enabling persons with disabilities to reach their optimal, physical, sensory, intellectual, psychiatric or social functional level.
Assistance to Disabled Persons for Purchase/Fitting of Aids and Appliances (ADIP) under which assistance is provided to persons with disabilities in procuring durable, sophisticated and scientifically manufactured, modern, standard aids and appliances that can promote their physical, social and psychological rehabilitation by reducing the effects of disabilities and enhancing their economic potential. The scheme also has a provision to provide cochlear implant to hearing impaired children upto 5 years of age at a cost of up to Rs.6.00 lakh per child.
Scholarship schemes under which the Government provides scholarships for students with disabilities such as Pre-matric (for classes IX & X), Post-matric (from class XI up to Post Graduate degree/diploma level), Top Class Education (Post graduate degree/diploma in notified Institutes), National Fellowship (M.Phil and Ph.D courses), National Overseas Scholarship (for Overseas education at P.G./Doctorate level).
Skill Development: The National Action Plan for Skill Training of persons with disabilities aims at imparting skills to persons with disabilities for enhancing their employability.
*****