Question : SURVEY OF DIFFERENTLY ABLED PERSONS

(a) whether any survey has been conducted to ascertain the number of differently abled persons in the country;

(b) if so, the details and the outcome thereof, State-wise; and

(c) the steps proposed to be taken by the Government, if any, to enhance the physical, social and psychological rehabilitation of the differently abled persons?

MINISTER OF SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT(MUKUL WASNIK)

(a) to (c) A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

A STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (a) TO (c) OF THE LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.108 (8th POSITION) FOR 02.08.2010 TABLED BY DR. SANJAY JAISWAL & SHRI MAROTRAO SAINUJI KOWASE, MPs REGARDING “SURVEY OF DIFFERENTLY ABLED PERSONS”

(a) & (b) Data on persons with disabilities are available from two sources: - (i) Census, 2001, and (ii) National Sample Survey, 58th Round, conducted by the National Sample Survey Organization (NSSO) in 2002. Total number of persons with disabilities in the Country as per these two sources is 2.19 Crore and 1.84 Crore respectively.

As regards State-wise data, State-wise population of persons with disabilities as per Census, 2001, is given in Annex. - I. However, NSSO, 2002, gives only State-wise number of persons with disabilities per lakh population. This information is given in Annex.-II

(c) Steps being taken by the Central Government for the physical, social and psychological rehabilitation of persons with disabilities are as under: -

(i) The Ministry provides grants-in-aid to State Governments/ UTs, Universities, Non-Governmental Organizations etc. for creation of barrier free environment, providing assistive devices, special education, vocational training, pre-school and early intervention programmes, etc. under various schemes.

(ii) Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan aims at universal inclusive education upto class VIII of children with disabilities. A new scheme of Inclusive Education for Disabled at Secondary State (IEDSS) has been introduced in 2009-10 for students with disabilities studying in Class IX-XII with the aim to enable them to pursue secondary schooling in an inclusive environment.

(iii) The Ministry supports seven autonomous National Institutes which provide rehabilitation services, carry out research & development work, and undertake manpower development in regard to various types of disabilities.

(iv) National Handicapped Finance and Development Corporation (NHFDC) provides concessional credit for income generating activities for self-employment.

(v) 20 Vocational Rehabilitation Centres (VRCs) have been established in 19 States by the Ministry of Labour and Employment to provide vocational training to persons with disabilities.

(vi) The Ministry has established six Composite Regional Centres (CRCs) at Srinagar, Sundernagar, Bhopal, Lucknow, Guwhati and Patna for providing rehabilitation services to persons with various types of disabilities. It is proposed to establish two more CRCs this year.

(vii) In addition to 199 approved District Disability Rehabilitation Centres, the Ministry proposes to establish 50 new District Disability Rehabilitation Centres (DDRCs) this year.

(viii) An Indian Sign Language Research and Training Centre is also proposed to be established this year.