Welfare Schemes for Physically Challenged Persons
The following schemes are being implemented by the Government for the welfare of the persons with disabilities:-
(i) Deendayal Disabled Rehabilitation Scheme (DDRS):- Under the scheme, funds for the welfare of persons with disabilities are provided to the non-governmental organizations for projects like special schools for disabled, Vocational Training Centres, Half Way Homes, Community Based Rehabilitation Centres, Early Intervention Centres for Disabled and Rehabilitation of Leprosy Cured Persons etc.
(ii) Assistance to Disabled Persons for Purchase/Fitting of Aids and Appliances (ADIP):- Under the scheme, aids/appliances are distributed to the needy persons with disabilities which includes mentally challenged children also.
(iii) National Institutions:- The Ministry supports seven autonomous National Institutes which provide rehabilitation servicesand undertake manpower development with the overall objective of providing rehabilitation services for different types of disabilities.
(iv) The National Handicapped Finance & Development Corporation provides concessional credit to persons with disabilities for setting up income generating activities for self employment.
(v) Scheme for Implementation of Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act, 1995 (SIPDA):- Under this Scheme, assistance is provided for setting up of District Disability Rehabilitation Centres, Regional Rehabilitation Centres, creating barrier free environment in public buildings, awareness generation etc.
(vi) Scheme of Incentives to Employees in the Private Sector for providing employment to persons with disabilities:- Under this Scheme, launched in April, 2008, the Government of India provides the employers’ contribution for Employees Provident Fund (EPF) and Employees State Insurance (ESI) for three years, for persons with disabilities employed in the private sector on or after 1.4.2008, with a monthly salary upto Rs.25,000/-.
Since all the schemes are Central Sector schemes, the funds are not allocated state-wise. The Budget allocation under these schemes for the last three years and current year is given below:
Scheme/Programme | Budget Allocation (In crores) |
ADIP | 328 |
DDRS | 336 |
Employment of Physically challenged | 38 |
NHFDC | 75 |
National Institutes | 207 |
SIPDA | 158 |
This information was given by Shri D. Napoleon, the Minister of State for Social Justice & Empowerment, in a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha on 28th july 2010.
Facilities for Disabled
As per the countrywide sample survey conducted by National Sample Survey Organisation in 1991, there were 14.56 million disabled persons in India suffering from visual, speech, hearing and locomotor disabilities. In order to bring these persons into the main stream of development and enable them to make a decent living and contribute to national life, a number of measures have been initiated in various fields. This brochure describes the facilities available in the fields of education and employment.
Who are the disabled ?
Disabled persons include the blind, the deaf, the orthopaedically handicapped, the negative lepers and the mild mentally retarded persons. (for more specific definitions, please see Appendix ‘A’).
Organisations providing facilities to the Disabled
The problem of rehabilitating the disabled is tackled at various levels – by the Central Government, State Governments, and by Voluntary Organisations. In the Central Government, the Ministry of welfare plays a major role in framing policies and programmes for the handicapped. All State Governments and Union territories in India have established Social Welfare of the handicapped. The Voluntary Sector also plays a very important role in providing welfare and rehabilitation services for the Disabled.
Educational Facilities
While the disabled children may attend the regular schools there are also special schools for the disabled children. Most of thesespecial schools are located in Urban areas. Voluntary Organisations are taking major initiative in opening special schools in the country. The Ministry of Welfare provides financial assistance to these organisations to establish special schools. A few special schools offer vocational training in trades like tailoring, carpentry, book binding etc. There are four national institutes in the area of visual, hearing, mental and locomotor disability which organise regular programmes for the training of teachers for the training of teachers for the handicapped. The Scheme has been transferred to the Department of Education since 1982.
Under the Integrated Education Scheme for Disabled operated by the Department of Education, handicapped children are sought to be integrated in the normal school system. Hundred per cent assistance is provided to states and UTs for education of the children suffering from certain mild handicap in common schools with the help of necessary aids, incentives and specially trained teachers.
The following types of disabled children are covered under this Scheme:
(1) Children with locomotor handicaps ( Orthopedic Handicapped )
(2) Mildly and moderately hearing impaired.
(3) Partially sighted Children.
(4) Mentally handicapped – educable group ( with IQ 50 – 70 ).
(5) Children with multiple handicaps ( Blind and Orthopedic ) hearing impaired and orthopaedic, educable mentally retarded and orthopaedic, visual impaired and mild hearing handicapped.
(6) Children with learning disabilities.
The Scheme provides the following facilities:-
(1) The Handicapped Children are provided certain allowances as indicated below:-
(a) Books and stationery allowances of Rs. 400 per annum.
(b) Actual expenses on uniform upto Rs. 200 per annum.
(c) Transport allowances of Rs. 50 per month.
(d) Reader allowance of Rs. 50 per month in case of blind children after Class V.
(e) Escort allowance for severely handicapped children with lower extremely disabilities @ 75 per month.
(f) Actual cost of equipment subject to a maximum of Rs. 2000 per student for a period of five years.
(2) The severely orthopaedically handicapped children to bring one attendant is allowed for 10 children to bring one attendant is allowed for 10 children in a school. The attendant is given the standard scale of pay prescribed for Group ‘D’ employees in the States/U.T. concerned.
(3) Disabled Children residing in school hostel within the same institution where they are studying may also be paid boarding and lodging charges as admissible under the State Govt.Rules/Schemes. where there is no state of Scheme of Scholarship to hostlers the disabled children, income of whose parents does not exceed Rs. 5000 per month may be paid actual boarding and lodging charges subject to a maximum of Rs. 200 p.m.
(4) Severely orthopaedically handicapped children residing in school hostels may need the assistance of a helper or ayah. A special pay of Rs. 50 p.m. is admissible to any employee of the hostel willing to extend such help to Children in addition to his/ her duties.
(5) In a school in rural areas where at least 10 handicapped children are enrolled, capital cost for purchase of school rickshaw for free use of these children and expenses for Rickshaw Puller @ Rs. 300 p.m. will be provided under the scheme. In such cases, no transport allowances will be payable to the Students.
Fellowships
Junior and post-Doctoral fellowships are awarded by the U. G. C. A Post-Doctoral fellowships is of Rs. 2100 per month While Junior Fellowship is Rs. 1800 per month. The duration of a Post-Doctoral (Fellowship (P.D.F.) is two years and that of a Junior Fellowship (J.R.F.) is four years. In the third years of the ( J.R.F.) the scholar jis entitled to Rs. 2100 per month on the basis of his work done in the first two years. In addition to the monthly payment an annual contingent grant of Rs.4000 or Rs. 300 is paid to Post- Doctoral or Junior Fellow respectively .
In the case of blind scholars, U.G.C. Provides a special grant to cover the appointment of a reader. The University Grant Commission has reserved 1% of the fellowships allocated to the universities or atleast one award per year to the handicappedpersons.
Facilities in Employment
Several facilities have been provided to handicapped persons in the field of employment by Central as well as state Governments so that these people may become independent. Some of them are as follows:
1.Ministry of Welfare has made an in-depth study of various jobs done in Government Offices and Public Sector Undertakings. The study has identified about 1100 jobs suitable for handicapped persons. Physical requirements needed have also been identified. A number of jobs under Group ‘A’ and ‘B’ are there that can be done by handicapped persons. There are instructions by the Govt. that in these jobs disabled persons should be given preference. The list of identified jobs is available in the Publication “Brochure on reservations and Concessions for Physically Handicapped in Central Government Services” brought out by Ministry of personnel, Public Grievance and Pensions. Department of Personnel and Training.
2. The Govt. of India has reserved 3% of Vacancies in Group ‘C’ and ‘D’ posts in the Central Government Services against ‘identified jobs’ one per cent each of the blind, the Deaf and the Orthopaedically handicapped. Some public Sector Under takings such as Banks. Railways also follow this Most of the States have also 3% reservation while other States have their own reservation policies.
3.Upper age is relaxable upto 10 years for appointment to Clerical and Subordinate Cadre posts.
4. Physically Handicapped persons who are otherwise qualified to hold Clerical posts and who are certified as being unable to type have been exempted from typing qualifications.
5.In the Case of holders of Group ‘C’ Group ‘D’ posts who have been recruited on basis and who are handicapped may be given postings as far as possible near their native places within the region. Requests from physically handicapped employees for transfer to or near their native places may also be given preference.
6. In Banks relaxation in minimum educational qualification has also been provided , for Clerical cadre the minimum educational requirement for physically handicapped person is IInd Division in Matric or IIIrd Division in Higher Secondary Examinations.
7. University Grants Commission has instructed Universities with regard to recruitment of the physically handicapped – when qualified blind persons are available for appointment of teaching posts in the University / Colleges. They should not be ignored because of their handicap.
They should be employed for tutorial work in certain subjects.
These persons should be given preference for appointment in the teaching music.
Self Employment
Government of India has introduced several other schemes to promote employment/self-employment among disabled population – Government provides assistance to Voluntary Organisation for training and Sheltered workshops. Banks Provide loans at low interest rates to promote Self-employment. Certain Categories of handicapped are allotted public telephone booths and other types of shops such as tea stalls.
The Ministry of Petroleum, Chemicals and Fertilizers provides reservation in dealership/distributorship in the agencies of public Sector Oil Companies. This relaxation is as follows:
(i) Physically handicapped . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 ½ %
(ii) Defence personnel who are permanently or severely disabled due to war or while on duty 7½ %
Other Facilities
The handicapped persons under Govt. Services are provided conveyance allowance as per rules.
Institution that are importing equipment and apparatus for education and training of the handicapped are exempted from Custom duty including the braille wrist watches.
Residential houses are allotted to the handicapped persons who are in Govt. service on a priority basis. The Delhi Development Authority has reserved 5% of shops, 10% residential plots and 1% flats in each housing scheme for the disabled persons.
Concessional tickets are available to these persons for travelling by rail or by Air. Persons having their own vehicles are exempted from paying road tax and petrol is provided on Concessional rates.
Ministry of Welfare provides assistance to disabled persons for purchase and fitting of aids and appliances for their physical rehabilitation in order to increase their capacity to participate in economic activities.
Some Specialized Institutes working for Rehabilitation of Handicapped
The Central Government has established four national institutions-----
(i) The National Institute for Visually Handicapped, Rajpur Road, Dehradun.
(ii) The National Institute for the Orthopaedically Handicapped, B.T. Road, Bonhoolgy, Calcutta.
(iii) The National Institute for the Mentally Handicapped Manovikas Nagar, Benrempaly, Secunderabad, A.P.
(iv) The National Institute for the Hearing Handicapped, K.C. Marg, Bandra, Bombay.
These Institutes are responsible for manpower development, growth of Suitable service models, research, development of educational and vocational aids at low cost to help the disabled. They also serve as premier information and documentation centers in their respective areas of disability. They also operate their evaluation and training Center for Adult Blind at Dehradun offers training in a wide range of crafts such as Radio Egg. Light Egg. Chair Canning, Weaving, Soap making etc. Some of these Institutes also have sheltered workshops where employment can be provided to a limited number of Handicapped persons.
Besides, there are several other national bodies that are looking after the training and service programmes for the handicapped. Some of these are – All India Institute of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Bombay; All India Institute of Rehabilitation and Artificial Limbs, Madras; The National Institute for Physically and Orthotic Training, Bhubaneswar, etc. There are several Rehabilitation Service Centers also engaged in research activities. Some important Centers are-
(i) All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi.
(ii) Sawai Man Singh Hospital, jaipur.
(iii) Medical College, Trivandrum.
(iv) Regional Artifical Limb Centre, Lucknow.
(v) St. Martha’s Hospital, Bangalore.
(vi) National Institute for Mental Health and Neuro Sciences, Bangalore.
(vii) Nair Hospital, Bombay.
(viii) P.G. Hospital, Calcutta.
(ix) Artificial Limb Manufacturing Corporation, Kanpur.
District Rehabilitation Centres
In order to serve disabled in rural areas, Govt. has set up District Rehabilitation Centres. Under the Scheme each Village Consisting of 1000 people has been assigned a village rehabilitation worker to identify the needs of disabled persons. For a cluster of 20 to 30 villages a primary Rehabilitation Assistant is being appointed and a block consisting of about 1,50,000 people a primary Health Centre works to assist handicapped in getting Vocational training, appropriate education and employment. It also helps the disabled to get aids and appliances. In this hierarchy, there is a District Rehabilitation Centre over a population ranging from 1 to 1.5 million. The Regional Training Centres in the State or region serve as the Referral Centres from the DRC. These Centres provide advanced physical restoration, Vocational Counseling and professional manpower training Services. Presently DRCs are functioning at Bhiwani (Haryana), Bilaspur (M.P.), Changalpath (T.N.), Jagdishpur (U.P.), Kharakpur (West Bengal), Kota (Rajasthan), Mysore (Karnataka), Sitapur (U.P), Vijayawada (A.P), Virar ( Maharashtra) , Bhubaneshwar ( Orissa).
Vocational Rehabilitation Centres
Seventeen VRCs for the Handicapped are functioning at Ludhiana, Delhi, Kanpur, Calcutta, Jabalpur, Jaipur, Baroda, Ahmedabad, Madras, Bombay, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Trivandrum, Bhubaneshwar, Guwaahati, Agartala and patana (List Appendix B). The main purpose of these Centres is to assess the residual Capacity of the physically handicapped and recommendoccupations suited to them. VRCs also arrange for their training in industries as apprentices and in other training institutions. These Centres also provide placement services. The five categories of Handicapped persons – the Deaf, the Blind, Orthopaedically Handicapped, Mildly retarded and Negative Leprosy persons may avail the services provided by VRCs. Some training Workshops on trades such as Radio Assembly, Metal, Commercial, Carpentry, Tailoring are also functioning at VRCs to provide training and evaluate skills possessed by an individual. The individuals get a stipend of Rs. 100 during evaluation period of month. No fees is taken from the candidates for evaluation and other services provided by these Centres. Assistance is also available for procuring financial aid for purchase of Artificial limbs and other aids. Centres also provide help in setting own ventures in terms of arranging finances, allotment of shops, telephone booths etc. 17 Vocational Rehabilitation Centres are functioning under DGE&T, Ministry of Labour. The rehabilitation services have been extended to the handicapped living in rural areas. This is done through Mobile camps and 11 Rural Rehabilitation Extension Centres (RRECs) set up in 11 Blocks under 5 VRCs situated at Bombay, Calcutta, Kanpur, Ludhiana and Madras.
The Voluntary Organisations
A large number of Voluntary organisations has sprung-up in recent years for the Cause of handicapped persons. As per the Directory published by the Instt. for the Physically Handicapped, New Delhi. There are about 8000 such institutions. About 80 per cent of these organisations are located in Andra Pradesh, Gujarat, Karnataka, kerala, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal and Delhi. A large majority of the Organisations are in the big cities.
SPECIAL EMPLOYMENT EXCHANGES
Special Employment Exchanges have been established in some State Capitals and special Capitals and Special cells in other employment exchanges. These exchanges exclusively register physically handicapped persons seeking jobs. They also arrange for their placement both in public and private sector. The number of special Employment Exchanges in India is 23 while the number of special cells in ordinary exchanges is 55.
APPENDIX ‘A’
DEFINITIONS OF DISABILITY OF VARIOUS CATEGORIES
(1) The Blind –
Suffering from either of the following:
A. Total absence of sight.
B. Visual acquity not exceeding 6/60 or 20/200 (snellen) in the better eye with correcting lenses.
C. Limitation of the field of vision substanding an angle of 20 degree or worse.
(2) The Deaf-
The deaf are those in whom the sense of hearing is nonfunctional for ordinary purposes of life. They do not hear / understand sounds at all events with complified speech . The cases included in this category will be those having hearing loss more than 90 decibles in the better ear (profound impairment) or total loss of hearing in both the ears.
(3)The Orthopaedically Handicapped-
The OH are those who have a physical defect or deformity which causes interference with normal functioning of bones, muscles and joints.
(4)The Negative Lepers:
Cured and non-infunctions leprosy Patients.
(5) The Mild Mentally Retarded-
Those having an I.Q. varying from 51 to 70 can develop social and communication, Skills, can learn academic skills approximately upto 6th grade level, can achieve social and vocational skills adequate to minimum self support , needs assistance under usual social or economic stress.
APPENDIX ‘B’
LIST OF VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION CENTRE FOR HANDICAPPED
S. No. Name and Address of VRC
1. VRC for Handicapped, ITI, Kuber Nagar, Ahmedabad – 382 340.
2. VRC for Handicapped, Sicon, C.T.I. Campus, Bombay-400 002.
3. VRC for Handicapped, 38, B.R. Lane, Beliaghata, Calcutta- 700 010.
4. VRC for Handicapped, 22/1, Hasur Road, Banglore-560029
5. VRC for Handicapped, I.T.I., Pusa, New Delhi-110012.
6. VRC for Handicapped, 4-SA 23, Jawahar Nagar, Jaipur-302 004.
7. VRC for Handicapped, A.T.I. Campus, Vidya Nagar, Hyder-abad- 500768.
8. VRC for Handicapped , Napier Town, Jabalpur –482001.
9. VRC for Handicapped, C.T.I., Gobind Nagar, Kanpur-22.
10. VRC for Handicapped, ATI, Gill Road, Ludhiana-141003.
11. VRC for Handicapped, C.T.I., Guindy, Madras-600039.
12. VRC for Handicapped, Rehbari, Guwahati-781008,Assam.
13. VRC for Handicapped, Nalachira, Trivandrum-15.
14. VRC for Handicapped, SIRC Campus, Unit VIII, Bhubanes-war-12.
15. VRC for Handicapped, Mahadev Industrial Estate Bahucha- Raji Road, karejibaug, Baroda-390018.
16. VRC for Handicapped, C/O Director Employment and Manp power Planning, Agartala.
17. VRC for Handicapped, Plot No. 1 (A-84) Gandhi Vihar Patna (Bihar).
APPENDIX ‘C’
ADDRESSES OF THE SPECIAL EMPLOYMENT EXCHANGES FOR PHYSICALLY HANDICAPPED (RUNNING)
1. The Regional Employment Officer. Special Employment Exchange for Physically Handicapped, Azamabad, Hyderabad-500020.
2. The Employment Officer, Special Employment Exchange for physically Handicapped, Barrack No. 1/ E-5, Block No.1/E-5, Block A, Curzon Road, New Delhi.
3. The Employment Officer, Special Employment Exchange For Physically Handicapped, No. 5, Crescent Road, High Grounds, West Bangalore – 560020.
4.The Special Employment Officer,Special Employment Exchange for Physically Handicapped, Merchanitile Chambers, 3rd Floor,Graham Road, Ballard Estate, Bombay-400001.
5. The Sub-Regional Employment Officer, Special Employment Exchange for Physically Handicapped, Block No. 2, Gill Road, Ludhiana, Punjab.
6. The Assistant Director, Special Employment Exchange for Physically Handicapped, 33, Mount Road, Nandanam, Madras-600035.
7. The Special Employment Officer, Special Employment Exchange for Physically Handicapped, Behala Industrial Estate, 620,D.H. Road, Calcutta-700034.
8. The Employment Officer, Special Employment Exchange for Physically Handicapped, G. T. Road, Kanpur-208002.
9. The Employment Officer, Special Employment Exchange for physically Handicapped, Nadavanam Road, Palayam, Trivandrum, Kerala.
10. The Employment officer, Special Employment Exchange for physically Handicapped, 965, Wright Town, Jabalpur-482001.
11. The Employment Officer, Special Employment Exchange for Physically Handicapped, Combined Labour Building,Bailey Road, Patna-800001.
12. The Employment Officer, Special Employment Exchange for Physically Handicapped, 1282, Sector 13-C, Chandigarh-160018.
13. The Employment Officer, Special Employment Exchange for Physically Handicapped, Dte. of Employment and Training (H.P.), Stock Palace, Simla- 171002.
14. The Employment Officer, Special Employment Exchange for Physically Handicapped, Jaipur-302001 (Rajasthan).
15. The Employment Officer, Special Employment Exchange for Physically Handicapped, Dte. of Employment, Flat No. 367, Sahid Nagar, Bhubaneshwar-751007 (Orissa)
16. The Employment Officer, Special Employment Exchange for Physically Handicapped, Guwahati, Assam.
17. The Employment Officer, Special Employment Exchange for Physically Handicapped, Agartala, Tripura.
18. The Sub-Regional Employment Officer for Physically Hand- Capped, Kotli Building, Baroda (Gujarat).
19. The Sub-Regional Employment Officer for Physically Handi- capped, Multistorey Building,Nanpura, Surat, Gujarat.
20. The Sub-Regional Employment Officer for Physically Handi-Capped, Kopasiwala Bungalow,Junction Plot Rajkot, Gujarat.
21. The Special Employment Officer,
Special Employment Exchange for Physically Handicapped, Salajose Cross Road, Opp. S.V.College, Ahmedabad-380001.
22. The Director.
Special Employment Exchange for Physically Handicapped, Manipur, Imphal.
FACILITIES FOR PHYSICALLY HANDICAPPED PERSONS
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The number of orthopedically handicapped/paraplegic persons traveling on concession tickets in reserved segment during the year 2009-10 is approximately 9.84 lakh. Indian Railways have been manufacturing passenger coaches with specially designed compartments and toilets for wheel chair borne passengers. Facilities for ramp etc. for ingress/egress are not available in the current designs of coaches.
Facilities already exist for provision of wheel chairs at stations. This service is provided free of cost, duly escorted by coolies (on payment) as per present practice. Zonal Railways are also attempting to provide ‘Battery Operated Vehicles for Disabled ad Old Age Passengers’ at railway stations through commercial publicity route.
All major railway stations have been provided with ramps at exit/entry. Ramps and pathways have also been provided at the end of the platforms at all major railway stations to facilitate inter-platform transfer for physically challenged passengers. Provision of ramps at remaining stations is undertaken by Railways in a phased manner.
This information was given by the Minister of State for Railways, Shri K.H. Muniyappa in a written reply in Lok Sabha today. 29.7.2010
AKS/HK/LK/TR |
Concessions and Facilities Provided by Central Government to disabled
The Central Government have provided some facilities and concessions for the benefit of disabled people to integrate them into the mainstream. The facilities and concessions are:
1. Scheme of Integrated Education
2. Job Reservation in Government Sector
3. Economic Assistance
4. Welfare Schemes
5. Travel Concessions
Schemes for Integrated Education: The scheme of Integrated Education for the Disabled Children (IEDC) is a Centrally sponsored scheme and is being implemented by the Department of Secondary and Higher Education under the Ministry of Human Resource Development since 1982. Under this scheme, children with disabilities are encouraged to be integrated in the normal schoolsystem.
States and Union Territories (UTs) are provided assistance for education of the children with disabilities in general schools. The assistance provided includes the provision of necessary aids, incentives and specially trained teachers. A three- member team comprising of a doctor, a psychologist and a special educator is formed for assessment of the disability among school going children. The target groups covered under this scheme includes:
1. Children with locomotor handicaps (Orthopaedically Handicapped (O.H.))
2. Mildly and moderately hearing impaired.
3. Partially sighted children.
4. Mentally handicapped-educable group (IQ 50-70)
5. Children with multiple disabilities (visual and orthopaedic impairment; hearing and orthopaedic impairment; educable mentally retarded and orthopaedic impairment; visual and mild hearing impairment)
6. Children with learning disabilities.
The following monetary allowances are permitted for the disabled children under this scheme:
Books and Stationery allowance of Rs.400/- per annum.
Uniform allowance of Rs.50/-per annum.
Transport allowance of Rs.50/- per month (if a disabled child admitted under the scheme resides is in a hostel of the school within the school premises, no transportation charges would be admissible).
Reader allowance of Rs.50/- per month in case of blind children after class V. Escort allowance for severely handicapped children with lower extremity disabilities @ Rs.75/- per month.
Actual cost of equipment subject to a maximum of Rs.2000/- per student for a period of five years.
Other Concessions:
1. In the case of severe degree of orthopaedically handicapped children, it may be necessary to allow one attendant for 10 children in a school. The attendant may be given the standard scale of pay prescribed for Group D employees in the State/U.T. concerned.
2. Disabled children residing in hostels within the same school where they are studying may get boarding & lodging charges as admissible under the state government regulations. In case there is no state scheme of awarding scholarship to such hostel residents, then each one of them is eligible to receive the actual boarding & lodging charges subject to a maximum of Rs.200/- per month. This allowance does not apply if the income of the parents exceed Rs.3000/- p.m.
3. Severe orthopaedically handicapped children residing in school hostels may need a helper or an Ayah. A special pay of Rs.50/- p.m. is admissible to any employee of the hostel willing to extend such help to the children in addition to the usual duties.
4. If there are at least 10 handicapped children enrolled in a school located in a rural area, then an allowance of Rs.300/-p.m. is allowed so as to meet the expenses of their free transportation by a rickshaw. This allowance also covers the capital cost of the rickshaw and labour charges of rickshaw puller. No individual transport allowance is then admissible for the students.
5. Grant of education allowance to the children &reimbursement of the tuition fee for Central Government employees will be governed by the Central Civil Services (Education Assistance) Orders, 1988. Under this order, the reimbursement of tuition fee in respect of physically handicapped and mentally retarded children of the Central government employees has been enhanced to Rs.50 p.m. (from class I to XII) in comparison to the general category where it is only Rs.20.p.m. The disabled children will, however, get other assistance under this scheme as per rates prescribed for the normal children
Scholarships/ Fellowships for Disabled Persons:
Scholarships for disabled persons from class IX onwards have been transferred to state and union territory administration. The scholarships under this scheme are limited to a maximum period of 6 years after class XII. Income limit of parents/ guardians of the candidates should not be more than Rs. 2000 per month. In addition to monthly scholarships the candidates are also eligible to receive Readers Allowance.
The University Grants Commission has reserved 1% of the fellowships allocated to the universities for the handicapped.
Job Reservation in Government Sector under PWD Act- 1995. Since 1977 Government establishments are providing 3%reservation for the disabled in respect of Group C and Group D posts. After the enactment of the PWD Act, this reservation has also been extended in Group A and B identified posts. Identification of posts for persons with disabilities in all four groups has already been done in 1986 by the central government.
A committee was set up to modify the identification of posts in view of the PWD Act 1995. Identification of the posts has been completed. As per the order of government of India, reservation of 3% in jobs has been made in the identified posts for the physically handicapped persons in all the four Grades. One percent jobs each has been reserved for blind, deaf and orthopaedically handicapped. For effective implementation of the reservation it has been advised to maintain a roaster of vacancies arising on a yearly basis.
In this way every Ist, 34th & 67th vacancy is earmarked for the disabled in the cycle of 100 vacancies. A Committee has already identified appropriate posts for the physically disabled. The other concessions include.
In order to implement these reservations without loss of productivity, some posts are identified disability wise.
Disabled persons recruited for regional Grade C and Grade D posts may be given their posting (as far as possible) near their native place in that region subject to the administrative constraints. PH employees may be given preference in transfer near their native place.
The ban on filling up of non-operational vacant posts will not be applicable for reserve vacancies to be filled up by PH persons. If a reserve category of person is not available and the nature of vacancy in an office is such, it may be carried forward for a period of three subsequent years.
It has been instructed that recaning of chairs in government offices should be reserved for blind persons as far as possible. When the volume of work require a full time chair caner then a suitable post may be created in consultation with the finance department.
For the purpose of recaning the chairs in government offices, vocational rehabilitation centres and special employment exchange for the PH persons may be contacted. All the vacancies irrespective of their nature and duration are to be notified to the employment exchange and required to be filled through this agency unless they are filled through UPSC/SSC.
It has also been decided that all of the appointees should send their request to Employment Exchange/Special Employment Exchange/nearest Vocational Rehabilitation Centres for P.H. for nominating suitably handicapped persons to fulfil specific opportunities.
Extension of the age concession/ relaxation upwards by 10 years in favour of handicapped persons. This applies to posts filled through the SSC and through Employment Exchange.
Physically Handicapped persons who are otherwise eligible for appointment to posts of Lower Division Clark but cannot be so appointed due to their inability to satisfy the typing qualifications may be exempted from this requirement.
Physically Handicapped persons recruited to Grade. B and Grade. C posts advertised by the UPSC and SSC will be exempted from the payment of application and examination fee as prescribed by UPSC/SSC. Physically Handicapped persons with disability of upper or lower extremities are to be grated conveyance allowance at 5% of basic pay. Under the All India Service (Special Disability Leave) Regulation, 1957, special leave may be granted to a member of the service employee who suffers a disability as a result of risk of office or special risk of office. The special leave is subject to certain conditions.
Other Benefits:
Air Travel Concessions Indian Airlines allow 50% concession fares to blind persons on single journeys. Postage Payment of postage, both inland and foreign, for transmission by post of 'Blind Literature' packets is exempted if sent by surface route. Customs/Excise Braille paper has been exempted from excise and customs duty provided the paper is supplied direct to a school for the blind or to a Braille press against an indent placed by the National Institute for the Visually Handicapped, Dehradun.
All audiocassettes recorded with material from books, newspapers or magazines for the blind are exempt from custom duty. Several other items have also been exempted from customs duty if imported for the use of a disabled person.
Conveyance Allowance All central government employees who are blind or orthopedically handicapped are granted conveyance at 5 per cent of basic pay subject to a maximum of Rs. 100 per month.
Educational Allowance Reimbursement of tuition fee of physically and mentally handicapped children of the Central government employees has been enhanced to Rs. 50/-.
Rate of Interest:
Keeping in view the social objective the interest will uniformly be charged 4% p.a. Physically Handicapped persons are eligible under DRI scheme for loan to purchase artificial limbs, hearing aids, wheelchairs etc., subject to maximum of Rs. 2500/- per borrower provided such assistance is given alongwith the advances for productive activities and self employment ventures and all other requirements under DRI scheme are fulfilled.
Under the scheme of “Financing Small Scale Industries”, a special provision has been made to allow concession of ?% in the interest to the physically handicapped availing working capital limit above Rs.2500/- and upto Rs. 2 lakhs.
Income Tax Concession :
The amount of deduction from total income of a person with blindness, mental retardation or permanent physical disability has been increased to Rs. 40,000/-.
80DD (Deductions in respect of medical treatment, etc., of handicapped persons):Where an assessee who is resident in India, being an individual of a Hindu Undivided family has, during the previous year, included any expenditure for the medical treatment (including nursing), training and rehabilitation of a person who:
is a relative of the individual or, as the case may be, is a member of the Hindu undivided family and is not dependent on any person other than such individual or Hindu undivided family for his support or maintenance, and is suffering from a permanent physical disability (including blindness) or is subject to mental retardation, being a permanent physical disability or mental retardation specified in the rules made in this behalf by the Board, which is certified by a physician, a surgeon, an oculist or a psychiatrist, as the case be, working in a government hospital, and which has the effect of reducing considerably such person's capacity for normal work or engaging in a gainful employment or occupation.
The assessee shall, in accordance with and subject to the provisions of this section, be allowed a deduction of a sum of Rupees fifteen thousand only (Rs. 15,000/-) in respect of the previous year.Explanation: for the purpose of this section, "Government Hospital" includes a departmental dispensary whether full time or part time established and run by a Department of the Government for the medical attendance and treatment of a class or classes of Government Servants and members of their families, a hospital maintained by the local authority and any other hospital which arrangements have been made by the Government for the treatment of Government servants.
80 DDA (Deduction in respect of deposit made for maintenance of handicapped dependent):
1. In computing the total income of an assessee who is resident in India, being an individual or a hindu undivided family, there shall be deduction, in accordance with and subject to the provisions of this section, an amount not exceeding twenty thousand rupees (Rs.20,000) paid or deposited by him in the previous year out of his income chargeable to tax, under any scheme framed in this behalf by the Life Insurance Corporation or the Unit Trust of India subject to the conditions specified in sub-section (2) and approved by the board in this behalf.
2. The deduction under sub-section (94) shall be allowed only if the following conditions are fulfilled, namely:
3. The scheme referred to in sub-section (1) provided for payment of annunity or lump sum amount for the benefit of a handicapped dependant in the event of the death of the individual or the member of the Hindu undivided family in whose name subscription to the scheme has been made;
4. The assessee nominates either the handicapped dependant or any other person or a trust to receive the payment on his behalf, or the benefit of the handicapped dependent.
5. If the handicapped dependant predeceases the individual or the Hindu undivided family referred to in sub section (2), an amount equal to the amount paid or deposited under sub-section (1) shall be deemed to be the income of the assessee of the previous year in which such amount is received by the assessee and shall accordingly be chargeable to tax as the income of that previous year.
6. In this section:
7. "Government hospital" shall have the meaning assigned to it in the explanation to section 80 DD;
8. "Handicapped dependent" shall mean a person who is a relative of the individual or, as the case may be, is a member of the Hindu undivided family and is not dependant on any person other than such individual or Hindu undivided family for his support or maintenance; and who is suffering from a permanent physical disability(including blindness) or is subject to mental retardation, being a permanent physical disability or mental retardation specified in the rules made by the Board for the purposes of section 80DD, which is certified by a physician, a surgeon, an oculist or a psychiatrist, as the case may be, working in a Government hospital, and which has the effect of refusing considerably such persons capacity for normal work or engaging in a gainful employment or occupation.
"Life Insurance Corporation" shall have the same meaning as in clause (iii) of sub section of section 88. "Unit Trust of India" means The Unit Trust of India established under the Unit Trust of India Act, 1963 (52 of 1963).
80 DDB (Deduction in respect of medical treatment etc):
Where an assessee who is resident in India has, during the previous year, incurred any expenditure for the medical treatment of such disease or ailment as may be specified in the rules "made in this behalf by the Board.
for himself or a dependent relative, in case the assessee is an individual or for any member of a Hindu undivided family, in case the assessee is a Hindu undivided family, the assessee shall be allowed a deduction of a sum of rupees fifteen thousand rupees only (Rs. 15,000) in respect of that previous year in which such expenditure was incurred:
Provided that no such deduction shall allowed unless the assessee furnishes a certificate in such form 66b and from such authority as may be prescribed 66c Explanation - For the purpose of this section, "dependent" means a person who is not dependent for his support or maintenance on any person other than the assessee.
80U (Deduction in respect of permanent disability (including blindness) :
In computing the total income of an individual, being a resident, who, at the end of the previous year is suffering from a permanent physical disability or mental retardation specified in the rules made in this behalf by the board, which is certified by a physician, a surgeon, an oculist or a psychiatrist, as the case may be, working in a Government hospital, and which has the effect of reducing considerably such individual's capacity for normal work or engaging in a gainful employment or occupation, they shall be allowed a deduction of a sum of forty thousand rupees (Rs.40,000).
Provided that such individual produces the aforesaid certificate before the Assessing Officer in respect of the first assessment year for which he claims deduction under this section:
Provided further that the requirment of producing the aforesaid certificate from a physician, a surgeon, an oculist or a psychiatrist, as the case may be, working in a Government hospital shall not apply to an individual who has already a certificate before the Assessing Officer under the provisions of this section as they stood immediately before the 1st day of April,1992.
Explanation : For the purposes of this section, the expression "Government hospital" shall have the meaning assigned to it in the explanation to section 80DD.
88B (Rebate of Income tax in case of individuals of 65 years and above):
An assesse, being an individual resident in India, who is of the age of sixty five years or more at any time during the previous year and whose gross total income does not exceed one hundred and twenty thousand rupees, shall be entitled to a deduction from the amount of income tax (as computed before allowing the deductions under this Chapter) on his total income with which he is chargeable for any assessment year, of amount equal to 40% of such income-tax.
Explanation: For the purposes of this section a, "Gross total income" means the total income computed in accordance with the provisions of this Act, before making any deduction under Chapter VI-A.
The following section 88B shall be substituted for the existing section 88B by the Finance Act, 1997, w.e.f. 1.4.1998;
88B (Rebate of income tax in case of individuals of 65 years and above) :
An Assessee, being an individual resident in India, who is of the age of sixty-five years or more at any time during the previous year shall be entitled to a deduction from the amount of income tax (as computed before allowing the deductions under this Chapter) on his total income, with which he is chargeable for any assessment year, of an amount equal to hundred per cent of such income tax or an amount of ten thousand rupees only (Rs.10,000), whichever is less.
Posting Candidates with Physical handicaps, appointed on a regional basis be given as far as possible, appointments as close to their native place. Economic Assistance by Public Sector Banks All orphanages, homes for women and persons with physical handicaps as well as institutions working for the welfare of the handicapped, are given loans and advances at very low rates of interest (4% under DRI) and a subsidy of 50% up to a maximum of Rs. 5,000/- is also admissible.
State Governments/Union Territories also give concessions/facilities such as reservation in jobs, scholarships, old age pension, free travel in buses, etc.
Funding scheme for special schools A grant-in-aid scheme for voluntary organisations to develop institutes that serve to provide educational and social oppurtunities for persons with disability. Special Employment Exchanges for the Physically Handicapped is set up in all State Capitals and Special cells for the handicapped is set up in district head quarters through which circulation of vacancies for the handicapped in Group “C” and “D” posts of state/central Govt. is made.
Handicapped who register for employment with special employment Exchange/ special cell will be intimated of the vacancy and sponsored for interview/selection etc. Where there are no special employment exchanges for the handicapped, the special cells for the handicapped are established in the Employment Exchanges.
Handicapped can avail the benefit through registering at this centers. Also there are Vocational Rehabilitation Centres established in 17 places through out the country who also registers such cases for employment. Hence all the handicapped shall register their names with such centers for employment.
QUANTUM OF RESERVATION Reservation for the Persons with Disabilities
Three percent of the vacancies in case of direct recruitment to Group A, B, C & D posts shall be reserved for persons with disabilities of which one per cent each shall be reserved for persons suffering from
(i) blindness or low vision,
(ii) hearing impairment and
(iii) locomotor disability or cerebral palsy in the posts identified for each disability;
Three percent of the vacancies in case of promotion to Group D, and Group C posts in which the element of direct recruitment, if any, does not exceed 75%, shall be reserved for persons with disabilities of which one per cent each shall be reserved for persons suffering from
(i) blindness or low vision,
(ii) hearing impairment and
(iii) locomotor disability or cerebral palsy in the posts identified for each disability.
