(a) the total number of differently abled persons in the country ;
(b) the total number of differently abled graduates in the country ;
(c) whether the Government is taking steps for providing better job opportunities to them ; and
(d) if so, the details thereof ?
MINISTER OF STATE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT
(SHRI KRISHANPAL GURJAR)
(a) As per Census 2011, there are 2,68,14,994 persons with disabilities in the country.
(b) As per Census 2011, among the total population of persons with disabilities, 5% are graduates and above.
(c) and (d) The Government has enacted the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act, 2016 which came into force on 19.04.2017. Section 34 of the said Act provides for not less than 4% reservation in Government vacancies for certain categories of persons with benchmark disabilities (disability of 40% or more). Further, in order to implement the provision of reservation in Government employment envisaged under the RPwD Act, 2016, the Ministry notified the list of 3566 posts ( 1046 in Group A, 515 in Group B, 1724 in Group C and 281 in Group D) suitable for various categories of persons with benchmark disabilities on 04.01.2021.
Further, the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD) implements an umbrella scheme, namely, Scheme for Implementation of Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act (SIPDA) which has a component for Skill Development of Persons with Disabilities (PwDs). Under this component, the Department launched the National Action Plan (NAP) for Skill Development of Persons with Disabilities (between the age group of 15 to 59 years) in March, 2015 with a view to enhancing their scope of employability in both public and private sectors besides promoting self-employment. To promote entrepreneurship among PwDs, financial assistance in terms of loan on subsidized rates is provided by National Handicapped Finance and Development Corporation (NHFDC) under Divyangjan Swavalamban Yojna.
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