National Resource Kit: The Rajasthan Chapter (Call for Comments)
The 2001 Census revealed that in Rajasthan 2.5% of the population consisted of disabled persons. During the same year, the Rajasthan Government conducted a door to door survey in order to categorize the disabilities according to the seven categories listed in the Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act, 1995. Among the disabled, the highest number of 53.4 % was persons with visual impairment. Rajasthan also has 6.45% of the total disabled population in India, the sixth largest in the country.
Quick Statistics:
- Capital: Jaipur
- Population: 5,65,07,188
- Population of Persons with Disabilities:14,11,979
- Literacy: 67.1%
The Department of Social Welfare and Empowerment, Rajasthan implements the various rules and schemes concerning persons with disabilities in Rajasthan. The State Government has also appointed a Commissioner for Disabilities. In May 2010, the Rajasthan Government appointed a task force on disability to develop a Comprehensive Disability Policy for the state. The policy aims at including disability rights, values and practices into government developmental strategies, planning and programs and development of an integrated management system for the coordination of disability planning. The policy is still in the pre-cabinet stage.
The State Government has also introduced various schemes for welfare of persons with disability. Out of these, schemes such as the Viswas Yojana to provide loan and subsidy for self-employment, Sukhad Jeevan Yojana to provide assistance for marriage of disabled persons and the Aastha Yojana etc. are some of the more important ones.
Click to download the Rajasthan Chapter
