Section 33 of the Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) (PwD) Act, 1995 envisages three percent reservations for persons with disability in identified posts in Government establishments.

            Under the Scheme of Incentives to the Private Sector for Employment of Physically Challenged Persons, the Government of India provides the employer’s contribution for Employees Provident Fund (EPF) and Employees State Insurance (ESI) for 3 years, for employees with disabilities including visually impaired persons employed in the private sector on or after 01.04.2008, with a monthly salary upto Rs.25, 000.

            The National Handicapped Finance and Development Corporation (NHFDC) provides concessional credit to Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) for taking up income generating activities by self-employment.

            The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) guarantees employment to rural household adults including differently abled persons. Under National Rural Livelihood Mission(NRLM), a provision of 3% of the total beneficiaries has been made for PwDs.

Indira Gandhi National Disability Pension Scheme (IGNDPS) under the National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP) provides pension to BPL persons with severe or multiple disabilities between the age group of 18 to 79 years @ of Rs. 300 p.m. per beneficiary.

            Under Deendayal Disabled Rehabilitation Scheme (DDRS), financial assistance is provided through Non Governmental Organizations (NGOs) for various projects for providing education, vocational training and rehabilitation of persons with disabilities.

            Under the National Scholarship Scheme which is funded from Trust Fund for Empowerment of PwDs financial assistance is provided to students with disabilities to enable them to pursue professional or technical courses from recognized institutes and get employed/self employed. Under the Scheme every year 1000 scholarships are provided to the students with disabilities through out the country. 30% scholarships are reserved for girls. Only Indian nationals are eligible for scholarships.

            National Fund has a scholarship scheme for students with disabilities. 500 new scholarships to be awarded each year are equally distributed (125 each) for the four major categories of disabilities viz. (i) Orthopaedic (ii) Visual (iii) Hearing and (iv) Others.  40% of the scholarships in each category are reserved for girls. 

            Scheme of ‘Rajiv Gandhi National Fellowship’ provides scholarship to students with disability to pursue M.Phil and Phd. programs in higher education. It is implemented by UGC.

A statement showing State-wise number of persons with disabilities is:

This information was given by the Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment, Shri  P. Balram Naik  in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha today.

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