Question : Welfare and Rehabilitation of Differently Abled Persons

(a) the details of the Schemes/Projects being implemented for the welfare and rehabilitation of persons with disabilities/physically and mentally challenged persons in the country especially in Tripura, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra;

(b) whether the Government has been successful in implementing schemes for the welfare of persons with disabilities/physically and mentally challenged persons;

(c) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;

(d) whether the Government has constituted a Committee to review the existing National Policy for Persons with Disabilities to bring it in consonance with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and if so, the details of the recommendation of the committee;

(e) the action taken by the Government on the said recommendations; and

(f) the other steps taken by the Government to provide special assistance in order to reduce the problems being faced by this section of the society?

MINISTER OF STATE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT

(SHRI KRISHANPAL GURJAR)

(a) to (c) The Department has taken various steps for making the persons with disabilities/physically and mentally challenged persons self-reliant and running several schemes / projects through its National Institutes, National Trust, National Handicapped Finance and Development Corporation (NHFDC) and Artificial LimbsManufacturing Corporation of India (ALIMCO) as well as through State Governments / Autonomous Bodies/ Organizations / Institutes and Non-Government Organizations (NGOs) for welfare and rehabilitation of persons with disabilities including physically and mentally challenged persons throughout the country, including Tripura, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra. Details of the beneficiaries and funds released under the major schemes implemented by the Government for Divyangjans are at Annexure.

(d) and (e) The Government has constituted a committee to review the National Policy for Persons with Disabilities. Report of the Committee is awaited.


(f) The Government has enacted the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwDs) Act, 2016 which provides various rights and entitlements of Persons with Disabilities (PwDs). The Act mandates the appropriated Government and local authorities to take measures to ensure that PwDs may enjoy their rights equally with others. Relief to the PwDs is a State subject by virtue of entry 9 of the State list of the Constitution of India. However, the Ministry supplements the efforts of the States/UTs for the welfare and rehabilitation of persons with disabilities/physically and mentally challenged persons through various schemes/programs mentioned in reply of part (a) to (c) above.

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