The Government enacted Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act, 2016 which came into force on 19.04.2017. The number of disabilities has been increased from 7 to 21. The said Act provides rights and entitlements to PwDs, which, inter-alia, include right to equality, nondiscrimination, protection from cruelty, exploitation, right to live with family and community, access to justice, accessibility in voting, legal capacity, legal guardianship, health, education, employment, skill development, arts, sports, recreation, culture and participation in decision making process.

Section 34 of the said Act provides for 4 % reservation in the government employment to the persons with benchmark (40% or above) disabilities. Further, Section 32 of the said Act provides 5% reservation in government or government aided higher educational institutions for persons with benchmark disabilities.

Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities implements the National Action Plan for Skill Development of Persons with Disabilities (NAP-SDP). This scheme was launched in March, 2015. Training under the scheme is provided through various Government and Non-Government Organizations, empanelled as training partners (ETPs) with the Department. The main objective of the scheme is to enhance skills of Persons with Disabilities; provisioning of quality vocational Skill Training to Divyangjans to enable them to have gainful employment and to become self-reliant and productive.

Under the NAP-SDP scheme, skill training is provided to the persons with disability through the Government and Non-Government Organizations, across the country. Since the launch of the scheme, Department has provided the skill training to 1.42 lakh PwDs at a cost of Rs. 147.78 crore. Out of these PwDs, 28000 have been placed in wage-employment/self-employment. It is demand-driven scheme and funds are released to empanelled training partner based on their proposal. The Department has requested State Skill Development Mission (SSDM) of all States/UTs, including Uttar Pradesh, to encourage conducting skill training for PwDs.

Although relief to the disabled is a State subject by virtue of entry 9 of the State List of the Constitution of India, the Central Government supplements the efforts of the State Governments through its following major schemes:

1. Assistance to Disabled Persons for Purchase/Fitting of Aids and Appliance (ADIP): The Department is implementing the Scheme of ‘Assistance to Persons with Disabilities for Purchase/Fitting of Aids and Appliances (ADIP)’ under which funds are released to various Implementing Agencies to assist the eligible persons with disabilities (Divyangjan) in procuring durable, sophisticated and scientifically manufactured, modern, standard aids and appliances that promotes their physical, social and psychological rehabilitation. Various types of aids and assistive devices distributed to different types of disabilities are Motorized Tricycle, Wheelchair, Prosthesis and orthosis, Walking Stick, Accessible Smart Phones, Smart Cane, Low Vision Aids, Hearing Aids, Teaching Learning Material (TLM) Kits etc.
2. Scheme for Implementation of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act (SIPDA): Under this Scheme, assistance is provided to State Governments and autonomous organizations/Institutions under Central or State Government/various implementing agencies for various activities relating to the implementation of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016. Major Components of Scheme for Implementation of Persons with Disabilities Act (SIPDA) are:

(a) Creation of Barrier Free Environment for PwDs

(b) National Action Plan for Skill Development

(c) Accessible India Campaign (AIC)

(d) Unique Disability Identity Card

(e) Awareness Generation and Publicity Scheme

 

3. Deendayal Divyangjan Rehabilitation Scheme (DDRS): Under the Scheme grant-in-aid is provided to Non-Governmental Organization (NGOs) for running the projects relating to rehabilitation of persons with disabilities to enable them to reach and maintain their optimal physical, sensory, intellectual, psychiatric or social functional levels. During the last three years, 96,111 PwDs were benefitted under the Scheme.
4. Scholarship Schemes for Students with disabilities: Under this Scheme, the Government provides scholarships for students with disabilities such as Pre-matric (for classes IX & X), Postmatric (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 PhD courses in Indian Universities) and National Overseas Scholarship (Masters Degree/ Ph.D in Foreign Universities ). During the last three years, 1,15,667 PwDs were benefitted under the Scheme.

This information was provided by UNION MINISTER OF STATE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT, SHRI B.L. VERMA, in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha today.

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VM

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