As informed by the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD), the Central Government notified the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Rules, 2017 on 15.06.2017, which inter-alia provide the procedure for issue of certificate of disability. Further, the Central Govt. notified the guidelines for assessment of various specified disabilities including Intellectual Disability, on 04.01.2018. The competent medical authorities as notified by the States/UTs are required to issue certificate of disability as per these guidelines and in accordance with the RPwD Rules, 2017.

DEPwD issued the guidelines for assessment of various specified disabilities dated 04.01.2018 which were amended vide notification dated 09.12.2020 with respect to assessment of specific learning disability (SLD) to bring in more clarity for assessment by competent medical authority of the States/UTs. As per these amendments, psychiatrist has been included in the composition of the medical authority and it has been made clear that any person having tested positive on National Institute for Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS) Battery is to be considered as a person with benchmark disability i.e. disability of more than 40%.

DEPwD implements Awareness Generation programme to create awareness about the rights and entitlements of persons with disabilities through print, electronic and social media as well as through reputed organizations.

Further, it is mentioned that Samagra Shiksha scheme which covers children from pre-primary to senior secondary, has a dedicated component for Inclusive Education for Children with Special Needs (CwSN) through which various provisions are made available for their educational needs such as, identification & assessment camps, provision of aids, appliances, assistive devices & teaching learning materials (TLMs) including, home based education for children with multiple &/ severe disabilities who are unable to attend school.

The focus of Samagra Shiksha is on providing inclusive education to children with special needs wherein, children regardless of their abilities/disabilities participate and learn together in the same class, thus creating an enabling educational environment for all students.

This information was given by the Union Minister of Women and Child Development, Smt. Smriti Zubin Irani, in a written reply in Rajya Sabha today.

 

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(Release ID: 1794750)