Centre for Internet and Society

National Resource Kit: The Lakshadweep Chapter (Call for Comments)

anandi — 2014-02-20T10:00:32Z

The National Resource Kit team is pleased to bring you its research on the state of laws, policies and programmes for persons with disabilities in the state of Lakshadweep.

The Department of Social Justice, Empowerment and Culture is responsible for welfare of persons with disabilities in Lakshadweep. The union territory has an estimated population of 1678 persons with disabilities in a total population of 64,429 people. Lakshadweep implements two schemes under Skill Development & Employment, three schemes under Social Security, Health, Rehabilitation & Recreation and has notified authorities for disability Certification and certifying Organisations & Individuals for Persons with Disabilities.

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National Resource Kit: The Jammu & Kashmir Chapter (Revised)

anandi — 2014-02-20T09:46:00Z

The National Resource Kit team is pleased to bring you its research on the state of laws, policies and programmes for persons with disabilities in the state of Jammu and Kashmir

The Department of Social Welfare is responsible for the welfare of persons with disabilities in Jammu & Kashmir. The state has an estimated population of 3,02,670 persons with disabilities in a total population of 12,548,926 people.

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National Resource Kit: The Himachal Pradesh Chapter

anandi — 2014-02-20T09:24:02Z

The National Resource Kit team is pleased to bring you its research on the state of laws, policies and programmes for persons with disabilities in the state of Himachal Pradesh.

Introduction

The Department of Social Justice and Empowerment is responsible for the welfare of persons with disabilities in Himachal Pradesh. The state has an estimated population of 1,55,950 persons with disabilities in a total population of 6,856,509 people. The state has brought out a state policy for persons with disabilities and has issued three schemes under Education, four schemes under Skill Development & Employment, two schemes under Social Security, Health, Rehabilitation & Recreation and one scheme under Accessibility.

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National Resource Kit: The Himachal Chapter (Call for Comments)

anandi — 2013-11-07T06:15:57Z

The National Resource Kit team is pleased to bring you its research on the state of laws, policies and programmes for persons with disabilities in the state of Himachal Pradesh.

Executive Summary

Himachal Pradesh has issued a state policy for persons with disabilities to implement the provisions in the central laws. The government has brought out an integrated scheme for persons with disabilities in 2008 to implement certain sections of the Persons with Disabilities Act 1995. Through this scheme the government has made provisions for education, employment, training, health, rehabilitation and social protection for persons with disabilities.

State Profile

Capital: Shimla
Population: 6,856,509[1]
Population of Persons with Disabilities: 1,55,950
Literacy: 83.78%
HDI: 0.652 Ranked 3rd
Department: Department of Social Justice and Empowerment
Directorate: Directorate of SC, ST and Minority Affairs

Legal Provisions

Himachal Pradesh has brought out a state policy for persons with disabilities to implement the provisions under the two central laws, namely:

Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act 1995 (Persons with Disabilities Act)

National Trust for the Welfare of Persons with Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Mental Retardation and Multiple disabilities Act 1998 (National Trust Act)

The government of Himachal Pradesh has passed an integrated scheme for persons with disabilities in 2008 to implement Section 25 (A), Section 25 (E), Section 26, Section 30 (D), Section 39, Section 38 (I) (a), Section 41 and Section 66 of the Persons with Disabilities Act 1995.[2] Through this scheme the government has created provisions for education, employment, training, health, rehabilitation and social protection for persons with disabilities.

In order to elicit all relevant information related to persons with disabilities, the government has modified the Families Survey Register of ICDS to give an updated survey year on year. This is intended to help in understanding the nature and type of disabilities, educational and social status of families of persons with disabilities, employment status of disabled family members and the status of benefits availed under various scheme by persons with disabilities.

Accessibility

The integrated scheme for persons with disabilities provides for awareness generation and orientation through awareness camps, seminars and workshops with an idea of creating sensitivity among policy makers and social workers regarding the requirements of persons with disabilities. It also aims to educate the masses regarding barrier free environment and create a pool of access auditors for creating free access to persons with disabilities in public places and buildings. The scheme provides funds for the workshops, seminars and awareness camps to be held at various state, district and block levels.

Education

The government provides scholarships to students with disabilities from Class I to post graduate level and for diploma / vocational / technical / professional education. Students with disabilities whose annual family income from all sources does not exceed Rs. 60,000 are eligible to apply in the prescribed format with copies of bonafide Himachal Pradesh domicile certificate, disability certificate issued by competent authority, annual progress report of the student for the last year from the educational institution and the income certificate of the family. Rates for the scholarships:

Class	Rate for day scholars (per month)	Rate for hostellers (per month)
Class I to Class V	Rs. 150	Rs.300
Class VI to Class VIII	Rs. 200	Rs.400
Class IX – Class X	Rs. 250	Rs.500
Senior Secondary	Rs. 300	Rs.600
BA / B Com / B Sc	Rs. 350	Rs.700
BE / B Tech / MBBS / LLB	Rs. 400	Rs.800
MA / M Com / M Sc / LL M	Rs. 450	Rs.900

The government provides three per cent reservations for students with disabilities in all the educational institutions under the regular budget and programmes of any of the government departments.

The state has set up special schools for children with visual impairment and hearing impairment at Sunder Nagar for girls and at Dali for boys under the DSJE and SPCCD respectively.

Employment & Training

The state policy provides three per cent reservation in all state government posts from Class I to Class IV for persons with disabilities divided into one per cent each for persons with visual impairment, hearing impairment and orthopaedic disability. The policy further provides that employees with severe disability – 60 per cent or more – will be posted to stations of their choice as far as possible.

The government of Himachal Pradesh offers vocational / technical / livelihood training to persons with disabilities in collaboration with nongovernmental organisations and industrial bodies to promote self employment among persons with disabilities. The ventures will be financed by government finance development corporations.

Persons with disabilities who fulfil the following criteria should respond to the government’s call for training programmes in the prescribed format: the applicant Should be a bonafide resident of HP, should be between the age of 18 to 45 years on the date of application, should have passed the minimum educational qualification as required for the particular training programme and the annual income of the family should not be more than Rs. 1,00,000.

During the training, candidates will be provided a maximum assistance of rs. 1000 per month by the Department of SJE.

The government has also made provisions to provide financial assistance in form of subsidy in addition to the loans being provided by the HP Minority Financial Development Corporation to persons with disabilities for encouraging self employment. Candidates should apply to the HP Minority Finance and Development Corporation. Subsidy payable will be 20 per cent of the project cost or Rs. 10,000 whichever is less.

Himachal Pradesh recognises and awards best employers of persons with disabilities and best employees with disabilities. One award of Rs. 25,000 with citation is given to an employer who fulfils the following conditions: employs maximum number of persons with disabilities within the organisation, provides barrier free access within the premises, offers equitable working conditions for persons with disabilities on par with the other employees and provides additional facilities like travel and housing for employees with disabilities. Three awards of Rs. 10,000 each are given along with citations to one employee with disability each in the categories of visual impairment, hearing impairment and orthopaedic disability. Candidates for the awards will be either nominated by their employers or by the Deputy Commissioner (Disabilities) or recommended by the DWO of their respective districts.

Health and Rehabilitation

The integrated scheme for persons with disabilities creates provisions for early detection and prevention of disabilities through screening of children at regular intervals. The examination of children upto the age of six years will be carried out by Anganwadi workers while the examination of children upto 12 years will be undertaken by the Health and Family Department.

The scheme further provides for medical camps to be conducted to carry out regular checkups for persons with disabilities and certify their disabilities, recommend suitable aids and appliances for them and for the distribution of disability identity cards.

Social Protection

The state policy for persons with disabilities provides three per cent reservation in all poverty alleviation schemes for persons with disabilities.

The government provides marriage grants for persons with disabilities through its integrated scheme for marriages where either one or both parties are with disabilities. The scheme provides for a grant of Rs. 8000 for the marriage of a person who has a disability between 40 per cent and 74 per cent. It provides a grant of Rs. 15,000 for the marriage of a person with more than 75 per cent disability. Application for the grant is to be submitted in the prescribed format with copies of the birth certificate, bonafide domicile certificate for Himachal Pradesh, disability certificate issued by the district medical board and marriage registration certificate of the applicant along with an undertaking from the applicant that such a grant has not been received before.

Category	Notification No.	Details
All	Department of Social Justice and Empowerment NO.SJF-C(10)-31/2006, Dated Shimla-2	Integrated Scheme for Persons with Disabilities

[1]. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Himachal_Pradesh

[2]. Department of Social Justice and Empowerment No. SJF-C(10)-31/2006, Shimla - 2.

For more details visit http://editors.cis-india.org/accessibility/blog/national-resource-kit-himachal-pradesh-call-for-comments

National Resource Kit: The Gujarat Chapter (Call for Comments)

anandi — 2014-01-08T07:01:33Z

The National Resource Kit team is pleased to bring you its research on the state of laws, policies and programmes for persons with disabilities in the state of Gujarat.

Executive Summary

The Department of Social Justice and Empowerment is responsible for the welfare of persons with disabilities in Gujarat. The state has an estimated population of 1,045,465[1] persons with disabilities in a total population of 60,439,692[2]people. Gujarat has issued two resolutions under General Entitlements, four schemes under Women & Children with Disabilities, three schemes under Education, one resolution under Skill Development & Employment and seven schemes under Social Security, Health, and Rehabilitation & Recreation.

General Entitlements

The office of the police commissioner of Surat has circulated guidelines within the department for handling persons with mental illness moving unescorted in public places.[3] The guidelines require that:

The Police Inspector or senior Police Sub-inspector should directly deal with the person with mental illness.
The details of the person should be entered in the records of the police station and a report made.
The person with mental illness should be produced in the court of respective judicial magistrate with the report on the same day.
If the person is ordered to be admitted in a mental hospital by the judicial magistrate, the person should be admitted to the facility immediately.
In case of persons with mental illness who show excited or violent behaviour, the above process should be pursued with the help of the Forensic Science Department.
Women police officers should be present mandatorily in cases where women with mental illness are involved.

The government has passed a resolution mandating the use of terms like disability and disabled while referring to persons with disabilities instead of terms like handicapped, physical handicap in all its official communication.[4]

Sr. No.	Notification No.	Details
1	The Office of the Police Commissioner, Surat No. RB/Mentally Ill/4343/2010 Dated: 15.03.2010	Guidelines to police while handling persons with mental illness
2	Social Justice and Empowerment Department, Secretariat, Gandhi Nagar Resolution No. apg/102010/337/chh-1 Dated: 30. 12. 2010	Guidelines on official references to persons with disabilities

Women and Children with Disabilities

The government of Gujarat provides assistance of Rs. 40,000 to widowed women with disabilities towards construction of a pukka house (brick, stone and cement house with terrace).[5] This assistance is available once only to women in the age group of 18 to 60 years. The upper limit of the grant is Rs. 50,000 for rural areas and Rs. 70,000 for urban areas. The government also provides grants to widowed women with disabilities in the categories of scheduled caste[6] and scheduled tribe separately.

Widowed women with disabilities fulfilling the following conditions are eligible to apply:

Should have a minimum of 40 per cent disability.
Should possess a plot of land for constructing the house.
Should have resided for at least five years in the area where the house is to be constructed.
Should not be in receipt of benefit under any other housing scheme and should give a written undertaking regarding the same.
Should submit a certificate from a competent authority showing the date of death of her husband.
Should possess a disability certificate and a disability identity card.

The Department of Panchayats and Rural Housing provides assistance for construction of residential units to widowed women with disabilities in rural Gujarat.[8] Under this scheme, assistance of Rs. 54,500 is provided to widowed women with disabilities. The grant also covers labour charges for construction of the residential unit.

Sr. No.	Notification No.	Details
1	Social Justice and Empowerment Department, Sachivalay, Gandhi Nagar Resolution No. APG/102007/N.B.21/Chh-1 Dated: 07. 07. 2008	Grant for disabled widows for construction of house
2	Social Justice and Empowerment Department, Sachivalay, Gandhi Nagar Resolution No. APG/102007/N.B.22/Chh 1 Dated: 31. 03. 2008	Grant for disabled widows belonging to scheduled caste for construction of house
3	Social Justice and Empowerment Department, Sachivalay, Gandhi Nagar Resolution No. APG/102007/N.B.20/Chh 1 Dated: 31. 03. 2008	Grant for disabled widows belonging to scheduled tribe for construction of house
4	Department of Panchayats and Rural Housing, Secretariat, Gandhi Nagar Resolution No. prch/102009/819/1 Dated: 30. 06. 2011	Grant for disabled widows for construction of residential unit

Education

As the allowance provided by the central Integrated Education for the Disabled in Secondary Stage (IEDSS) scheme only covers students with disabilities studying in government secondary schools, the government of Gujarat provides additional scholarship for SC students with disabilities studying in Class IX and Class X in private unaided recognised schools. Students are eligible for allowances as listed below:

Category of Scholarship	Amount
Reader allowance for visually impaired students	Rs. 160 per month
Transport allowance (applicable for day scholars)	Rs. 160 per month
Escort allowance for day scholars with 80 per cent or more disabilities	Rs. 160 per month
Helper allowance (any employee of the hostel willing to help students with 80 per cent or more orthopaedic disabilities)	Rs. 160 per month
Coaching allowance for students with mental disabilities and mental health issues	Rs. 240 per month

Applicants should fulfil the following requirements:

Should present the disability certificate from the competent medical authority of the state government.

The total family income of parents or guardians should not exceed Rs. 2,00,000 per annum.

The scholarship will be paid for a period of 10 months in an academic year.

Students with disabilities belonging to scheduled caste[10] or schedule tribe[11] whose parents / guardians have a maximum annual income of Rs. 50,000 are eligible to receive scholarship from the government of Gujarat.

Sr. No.	Notification No.	Details
1	Social Justice and Empowerment Department, Sachivalay, Gandhi Nagar Resolution No. PMS/13/2012/405526/G Dated: 18. 06. 2013	Scholarship for disabled students in SC category in private unaided schools
2	Social Justice and Empowerment Department, Sachivalay, Gandhi Nagar Resolution No. APG/102007/N.B.9/Chh 1 Dated: 31. 03. 2008.	Scholarship to disabled students in SC category
3	Social Justice and Empowerment Department, Sachivalay, Gandhi Nagar Resolution No. APG/102007/N.B.10/Chh 1 Dated: 31. 03. 2008	Scholarship to disabled students in ST category

Skill Development & Employment

The government of Gujarat has passed a resolution that a 100 number roster will be maintained to provide three per cent reservation for persons with disabilities in direct recruitment. The vacancies of numbers 34, 68 and 100 will be reserved for persons with disabilities.

Sr. No.	Notification No.	Details
1	Social Justice and Empowerment Department, Sachivalay, Gandhi Nagar. Circular No. PVT/102012/138/ROSTER Dated: 18. 06. 2012.	Roster point system for direct recruitment to govt employment

Social Security, Health, Rehabilitation and Recreation

The government provides financial assistance to persons with severe disabilities (80 per cent or more disability) jointly under the Sant Surdas Scheme of the state government and the central Indira Gandhi National Disability Pension Scheme.[13]

Under these schemes, persons with severe disabilities in the age group of zero to 17 years are eligible to receive assistance of Rs. 200 per month. Persons with severe disabilities in the age group of 18 to 64 years are eligible to receive assistance of Rs. 400 per month (Rs. 200 under the state scheme and Rs. 200 under the central scheme).

Persons with severe disabilities who are residents of Gujarat and who are below poverty line are eligible for assistance under this scheme.

Persons with disabilities living below poverty line and who are above 64 years of age are eligible to receive old age pension under the Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme.[14]

The government of Gujarat provides persons with disabilities receiving pension under the Sant Surdas Scheme, Indira Gandhi National Disability Pension Scheme and Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme the option of receiving their pension in their bank accounts, post office accounts or on their doorstep through money orders.[15] Beneficiaries are required to indicate their preferred option to the payment officer in the prescribed format.

The government of Gujarat provides financial assistance of Rs. 4000 to state government employees with orthopaedic disabilities towards purchasing of foldable wheelchair.[16] This assistance is provided once to all employees with disabilities.

Persons with disabilities whose income is less than Rs. 25,000 per annum and who fall in the age group of five to 50 years are eligible for assistance from the government for purchase and fitting of aids and appliances for rehabilitation, and for purchase of educationally and vocationally useful equipment.[17]

This assistance is provided separately to persons with disabilities belonging to the scheduled caste[18] and scheduled tribe[19] categories.

Sr. No.	Notification No.	Details
1	Social Justice and Empowerment Department, Sachivalay, Gandhi Nagar Resolution NO. APG/102009/No. 9 to 14/Chh-1 Dated: 13. 08. 2008	Financial assistance to the severely disabled
	Social Justice and Empowerment Department, Secretariat, Gandhi Nagar Circular No. apg/102009/216(1)/chh-1 Dated: 31. 07. 2009	Financial assistance to disabled senior citizens
	Social Justice and Empowerment Department, Sachivalay, Gandhi Nagar Resolution No. APG-102008-37-Chh.1 Dated: 13. 08. 2008	Assistance to govt employees for purchase of folding wheelchair
	Social Justice and Empowerment Department, Sachivalay, Gandhi Nagar Resolution No. APG/102009/216/Chh.1 Dated: 03. 11. 2009	Option of receiving pension through money order
	Social Justice and Empowerment Department, Sachivalay, Gandhi Nagar Resolution No. APG/102007/N.B.6/Chh.1 Dated: 31. 03. 2008	Assistance for purchase and fitting of aids and appliances
	Social Justice and Empowerment Department, Sachivalay, Gandhi Nagar Resolution No. APG/102007/N.B.7/Chh.1 Dated: 31. 03. 2008	Assistance for purchase and fitting of aids and appliances to persons belonging to SC category
	Social Justice and Empowerment Department, Sachivalay, Gandhi Nagar Resolution No. APG/102007/N.B.8/Chh.1 Dated: 31. 03. 2008	Assistance for purchase and fitting of aids and appliances to persons belonging to ST category

Accessibility

The government of Gujarat is yet to implement schemes and policies towards accessibility.

Certification

The Social Security Department under the Social Justice and Empowerment Department issues disability identity cards for persons with disabilities with an income of not more than Rs. 2,50,000 per annum. Applicants should submit proof of income issued by the Namlatdar / Taluka Development Officer and two passport size photographs along with the application.[20]

Employees with disabilities serving with the government or with government aided organisations may submit certificate of income issued by the state / central government offices, government aided organisations and, boards and corporations functioning under the governments or panchayats as proof of income.

Documents such as ration card, true copy of electricity bill, municipal tax bill or receipt of house tax from the gram Panchayat, driving licence or voter ID card may be presented as proof of residence.

Sr. No.	Notification No.	Details
1	Department of Social Justice and Empowerment, Secretariat, Gandhi Nagar Resolution No. apg/102007/1077/chh-1 Dated: 12. 05. 2008	Disability identity cards

Schemes & Grants for Organisations & Individuals for Disabilities

There are no specific grants or schemes for organisations or individuals operating in the field of disabilities.

Disability Authorities

Gujarat has two authorities responsible for the welfare of persons with disabilities:

Social Justice and Empowerment Department
Commissioner for Disabilities.

[1]. http://www.socialjustice.nic.in/statewisedisabled.php.

[2]. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gujarat.

[3]. The Office of the Police Commissioner, Surat, No. RB/Mentally Ill/4343/2010 Dated: 15. 03. 2010.

[4]. Social Justice and Empowerment Department, Secretariat, Gandhi Nagar Resolution No. apg/102010/337/chh-1 Dated: 30. 12. 2010.

[5]. Social Justice and Empowerment Department, Sachivalay, Gandhi Nagar Resolution No. APG/102007/N.B.21/Chh-1 Dated: 07. 07. 2008.

[6]. Social Justice and Empowerment Department, Sachivalay, Gandhi Nagar Resolution No. APG/102007/N.B.22/Chh 1 Dated: 31. 03. 2008.

[7]. Social Justice and Empowerment Department, Sachivalay, Gandhi Nagar Resolution No. APG/102007/N.B.20/Chh 1 Dated: 31. 03. 2008.

[8]. Department of Panchayats and Rural Housing, Secretariat, Gandhi Nagar. Resolution No. prch/102009/819/1 Dated: 30. 06. 2011.

[9]. Social Justice and Empowerment Department, Sachivalay, Gandhi Nagar. Resolution No. PMS/13/2012/405526/G Dated: 18. 06. 2013.

[10]. Social Justice and Empowerment Department, Sachivalay, Gandhi Nagar. Resolution No. APG/102007/N.B.9/Chh 1 Dated: 31. 03. 2008.

[11]. Social Justice and Empowerment Department, Sachivalay, Gandhi Nagar. Resolution No. APG/102007/N.B.10/Chh 1 Dated: 31. 03. 2008.

[12]. Social Justice and Empowerment Department, Sachivalay, Gandhi Nagar. Circular No. PVT/102012/138/ROSTER Dated: 18. 06. 2012.

[13]. Social Justice and Empowerment Department, Sachivalay, Gandhi Nagar. Resolution NO. APG/102009/No. 9 to 14/Chh-1 Dated: 13. 08. 2008.

[14]. Social Justice and Empowerment Department, Secretariat, Gandhi Nagar. Circular No. apg/102009/216(1)/chh-1 Dated: 31. 07. 2009.

[15]. Social Justice and Empowerment Department, Sachivalay, Gandhi Nagar. Resolution No. APG/102009/216/Chh.1 Dated: 03. 11. 2009.

[16]. Social Justice and Empowerment Department, Sachivalay, Gandhi Nagar. Resolution No. APG-102008-37-Chh.1 Dated: 13. 08. 2008.

[17]. Social Justice and Empowerment Department, Sachivalay, Gandhi Nagar. Resolution No. APG/102007/N.B.6/Chh.1 Dated: 31. 03. 2008.

[18]. Social Justice and Empowerment Department, Sachivalay, Gandhi Nagar. Resolution No. APG/102007/N.B.7/Chh.1 Dated: 31. 03. 2008.

[19]. Social Justice and Empowerment Department, Sachivalay, Gandhi Nagar. Resolution No. APG/102007/N.B.8/Chh.1 Dated: 31. 03. 2008.

[20]. Department of Social Justice and Empowerment, Secretariat, Gandhi Nagar. Resolution No. apg/102007/1077/chh-1 Dated: 12. 05. 2008.

For more details visit http://editors.cis-india.org/accessibility/blog/the-gujarat-chapter

National Resource Kit: The Goa Chapter (Call for Comments)

anandi — 2013-11-07T06:16:40Z

The National Resource Kit team is pleased to bring you its research on the state of laws, policies and programmes for persons with disabilities in the state of Goa.

The chapter is an early draft and is in the process of being reviewed and updated. Comments and feedback are welcome.

Executive Summary

Goa has framed the Goa Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Rules 1997 and has formulated the state policy and plan of action for Differently Abled persons to implement the provisions under the three central laws.

The state policy makes provisions for barrier free access. The state has issued three notifications for education, four notifications for employment and one notification each for health and rehabilitation, social protection and transport.

Legal Provisions
Goa has framed the Goa Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Rules 1997 and has formulated the state policy and plan of action for Differently Abled persons to implement the provisions under the three central laws:

Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act 1995 (Persons with Disabilities Act)
National Trust for the Welfare of Persons with Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Mental Retardation and Multiple Disabilities 1999 (National Trust Act)
Rehabilitation Council of India Act 1992

The government has constituted the State Coordination Committee under the chairmanship of the Minister of Social Welfare and the State Executive Committee under the chairmanship of the Secretary – Social Welfare for monitoring and implementation of the various provisions of the Persons with Disabilities Act.

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National Resource Kit: The Delhi Chapter (Call for Comments)

anandi — 2013-11-12T10:07:33Z

The National Resource Kit team is pleased to bring you its research on the state of laws, policies and programmes for persons with disabilities in the state of Delhi.

Note: The chapter is an early draft and will undergo subsequent modifications. We welcome comments and feedback from our readers.

Executive Summary

The Department of Social Welfare is responsible for the welfare of persons with disabilities in the National Capital Territory of Delhi (Delhi NCT). The territory has an estimated population of 2,35,886[1] persons with disabilities in a total population of 16,753,235 [2] people.The government of Delhi NCT offers two schemes in Education, three schemes in Skill Training & Employment, and five schemes and three services in Social Security, Health, Rehabilitation & Recreation.

Legal Provisions

The government of Delhi NCT has framed the Delhi Persons with Disabilities (Protection of Rights, Equal Opportunities and Full Participation) Rules 2001[3] and the National Trust for Welfare of Persons with Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Mental Retardation and Multiple Disabilities Rules 2000.[4]

The various schemes brought out by Delhi NCT for persons with disabilities are listed below.[5]

Education

The government provides scholarships to students with disabilities in the following scale:

Year	Day Scholars (per month)	Hostellers (per month)	Reader Allowance
Class I – Class V	Rs. 50
Class VI – Class VIII	Rs. 70
Class IX – Class XII or equivalent	Rs. 125	Rs. 300	Rs. 150
BA / B Com / B Sc, etc.	Rs. 200	Rs. 400	Rs. 200
Professional Courses / In Plant Training	Rs. 250	Rs. 500	Rs. 250
PG Courses	Rs. 300	Rs. 500	Rs. 250

The government provides three per cent reservation in seats at I. T. I.s for persons with disabilities.

Skill Training & Employment

Delhi NCT provides three per cent reservation in Grade C and Grade D state government posts in direct recruitment for persons with disabilities.
Persons with disabilities are provided ten years relaxation in the upper age limit for applying to state government posts.
The government provides persons with disabilities five per cent reservation in allotment of DDA shops and kiosks. Persons with disabilities are also provided two per cent reservation in allotment of municipality shops.

Social Security, Health, Rehabilitation and Recreation

Persons with disabilities are issued Disability Identity cards at the offices of the sub-divisional magistrates under whose jurisdiction they reside from 9.30 a.m. to 6.00 p.m. on all working days.[6] Applicants should carry the following at the time of application:

Filled-in application form
Attested photocopy of first three pages of ration card showing proof of three years residence in Delhi
Attested photocopy of medical Certificate in respect of disability from All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Hospital, Hindu Rao Hospital, Safdarjung Hospital, Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital, Ram Manoher Lohia Hospital, Institute of Human Behaviour and Allied Sciences etc.
Two passport size photographs – one should be attested by a gazetted officer
For issuance of duplicate identity card, Rs. 10/- to be deposited with the cashier of District and the receipt should be attached with the application form
Ration Card is required at the time of submission of application form

Persons with disabilities may also apply for Disability Identity card at the offices of the Deputy Commissioner / Additional Commissioner (Disabilities) of their respective districts.[7]

The government has identified the following hospitals for issuing disability certificates:

Lok Nayak Hospital
Aruna Asaf Ali Government Hospital
Hindu Rao Hospital
Satyavadi Raja Harish Chander Hospital (for rural areas)
Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital
Jag Pravesh Chandra Hospital, Shastri Nagar
Pt. Madan Mohan Malviya Hospital
Guru Gobind Singh Hospital
Deen Dayal Upadhyay Hospital
Rao Tula Ram Hospital (for rural areas)
Lal Bahadur Shastri Hospital
Dr. Hedgewar Arogya Sansthan, Karkadoona
Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Hospital, Rohini
Sanjay Gandhi Memorial Hospital, Mangolpuri
Bhagwan Mahavir Hospital, Pitampura
Maharishi Valmiki Hospital, Pooth Khurd

Persons with mental illness, mental disabilities and neurological disorders can obtain disability certificates from:

Institute of Human Behaviour and Allied Sciences
GB Pant Hospital

Persons with disabilities up to the age of 60 years are eligible to receive financial assistance from the government under the 2009 scheme.[9]

Assistance of Rs. 1000 per month is provided to meet the rehabilitation and daily living requirements to those fulfilling the following requirements:

Disability should be at least 40 per cent
Total family income should not exceed Rs. 75,000 per annum
Should have resided in Delhi for at least five years before applying
Should possess disability certificate from the medical board of a government hospital
Should not be in receipt of similar assistance from another source

Persons with disabilities above the age of 60 years are eligible for financial assistance under the Scheme of Old Age Assistance. [10] Under this scheme persons in the age range of 60 to 69 years are eligible for a monthly pension of Rs. 1000 and persons 70 years and above are eligible for a pension of Rs. 1500 per month. Beneficiaries will be automatically transferred from the disability pension scheme upon completion of 60 years to the old age pension scheme. Likewise, upon completion of 69 years, beneficiaries will be automatically eligible for the higher pension. Applicants fulfilling the following conditions may apply in the prescribed format with proof of domicile, age and income:

Should have resided in Delhi NCT for the last five years
Total family income should not exceed Rs. 60,000 per annum
Should not be in receipt of pension from any other source

All voluntary organisations working for persons with disabilities will have to register with the department to be recognised by the Social Welfare Department under the Persons with Disabilities Act 1995.[11]

The Joint Director (Social Welfare) is the competent authority for this purpose. Organisations fulfilling the following conditions are eligible to apply to the office of the District Social Welfare officer:

Should have been in the field for not less than three years
Should be already registered under the relevant law
Should have a properly constituted managing body according to its written constitution
Should be a non profit organisation
Should be able to run the organisation without funding from the government
Professionals should be RCI registered
Premises should be disability friendly and have barrier free access
Should have audited accounts for the last three years

The Department of Social Welfare organises disability camps annually in association with government hospitals, DTC, Department of Education, Office of the Divisional Commissioner, National Trust, Indian Railways and disability NGOs.[12] The following services are provided at the camps:
Disability certificate from the government hospital of the area

DTC passes
Identity card from the office of the DC
Registration in integrated school
Railways concession pass
Services for autism and cerebral palsy
Aids and Appliances
Forms to avail various schemes

Persons with disabilities are provided one per cent reservation in allotment of DDA plots.

DTC issues free passes for persons with disabilities. Escorts for persons with visual impairment are given 50 per cent concession.

Persons with disabilities who are owners of vehicles are exempted from payment of road tax.

[1].http://socialjustice.nic.in/statewisedisabled.php

[2].http://censusindia.gov.in/2011census/censusinfodashboard/stock/profiles/en/IND007_NCT%20of%20Delhi.pdf

[3].No. F.2 (DDHW)/DSW/PDA/Pt.I/1949 dated 27.12.2001

[4].GSR 639(E) dated 26.7.2000.

[5].http://punarbhava.in/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=150&Itemid=89

[6].http://www.delhigovt.nic.in/dept/pubserv/Handicap.asp

[7].http://delhi.gov.in/wps/wcm/connect/doit_socialwelfare/SocialWelfare/Home/Our+Services/Welfare+of+Persons+with+Disabilities/Office+for+Issuance+of+I-Card

[8].http://delhi.gov.in/wps/wcm/connect/doit_socialwelfare/SocialWelfare/Home/Our+Services/Welfare+of+Persons+with+Disabilities/Hospitals+for+Issuance+of+Disability+Certificates

[9].http://delhi.gov.in/wps/wcm/connect/doit_socialwelfare/SocialWelfare/Home/Our+Services/Welfare+of+Persons+with+Disabilities/Schemes

[10].http://delhi.gov.in/wps/wcm/connect/DOIT_SocialWelfare/socialwelfare/home/our+services/financial+assistance+welfare+scheme+details+and+notifications+etc.

[11].http://delhi.gov.in/wps/wcm/connect/doit_socialwelfare/SocialWelfare/Home/Our+Services/Welfare+of+Persons+with+Disabilities/Registration+Certificate+Under+Section+52+of+Disability+Act

[12].http://delhi.gov.in/wps/wcm/connect/doit_socialwelfare/SocialWelfare/Home/Our+Services/Welfare+of+Persons+with+Disabilities/Disability+Camps

For more details visit http://editors.cis-india.org/accessibility/blog/the-delhi-chapter

National Resource Kit: The Daman & Diu Chapter (Call for Comments)

anandi — 2013-11-07T09:09:05Z

The National Resource Kit team is pleased to bring you its research on the state of laws, policies and programmes for persons with disabilities in the union territory of Daman and Diu.

Executive Summary

The Department of Social Welfare is responsible for the welfare of persons with disabilities in Daman & Diu. The union territory has an estimated population of 3171[1] persons with disabilities of a total population of 242,911.[2] Daman & Diu implements one scholarship scheme in Education, two schemes in Skill Training and Employment and two schemes in Social Security, Health, Rehabilitation and Recreation.

Legal Provisions

The Director of Social Welfare issues photo identity cards for persons with disabilities in Daman & Diu. The various provisions for persons with disabilities are listed below:

Education

1.1 Students with disabilities are eligible for scholarships under the central scheme of Integrated Education for Disabled Children as given in the following table.

Year	Books & Stationery (Yearly)	Other Allowances (Yearly)	Uniforms (Yearly)
Class I – Class IV	Rs. 300	Rs. 100	Rs. 200
Class V – Class VIII	Rs. 350	Rs. 150	Rs. 200
Class IX – First Year UG	Rs. 850	-	-
Second Year UG – Final Year UG	Rs. 1250	-	-
Technical Education	Rs. 1700	-	-

Skill Training and Employment

2.1 The government provides three per cent reservation for persons with disabilities in Grade C and Grade D government posts in direct recruitment. Reservations are provided at one per cent for visually impaired, one per cent for hearing impaired and one per cent for locomotor disabled.

2.2 Persons with disabilities are eligible for age relaxation of up to ten years in upper age limit for applying to government positions.

2.3 Persons with disabilities are provided an assistance of up to Rs. 5000 for self employment. 25 per cent of the amount is provided as subsidy while 75 per cent of the amount is provided as interest free loan. Persons with disabilities applying for the loan should have annual income less than Rs. 6000. Assistance is provided for the following options as listed.

Business	Assistance
Cycle shop	Rs. 2500
Tailoring shop	Rs. 2500
Purchase of typewriter	Rs. 4000
Cottage industries	Rs. 3000
Setting up of kiosks / handcarts	Rs. 5000

Social Security, Health, Rehabilitation and Recreation

3.1 The government provides a disability pension of Rs. 60 per month for persons with disabilities who are above the age of 55 years.

3.2 Students with disabilities are eligible for free transportation in government and private buses. Persons with disabilities and their escorts are eligible for 50 per cent concession in transportation.

[1]. http://socialjustice.nic.in/statewisedisabled.php

[2]. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daman_and_Diu

[3].http://punarbhava.in/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=158&Itemid=87

For more details visit http://editors.cis-india.org/accessibility/blog/daman-diu-chapter

National Resource Kit: The Chhattisgarh Chapter (Revised)

anandi — 2014-02-12T06:48:05Z

The National Resource Kit team is pleased to bring you its research on the state of laws, policies and programmes for persons with disabilities in the state of Chhattisgarh.

The chapter was revised based on the feedback and comments received from our readers.

The Department of Social Welfare is responsible for the welfare of persons with disabilities in Chhattisgarh. The state has an estimated population of 419,887[1] persons with disabilities in a total population of 25,545,198[2] people. Chhattisgarh has issued one scheme under General Entitlements, one scheme under Women and Children with Disabilities, three schemes under Education, two schemes under Skill Development and Employment, three schemes under Social Security, Health, Rehabilitation & Recreation and one scheme under Schemes & Grants for Organisations & Individuals for Disabilities.

1. General Entitlements

1.1 The Gharonda scheme provides persons with disabilities above the age of 18 years accommodation in government shelter homes throughout their lifetime.

Sr. No.	Issuing Authority	Notification No.	Details
1	Department of Social Welfare		Gharonda Scheme: Life-time accommodation in govt shelter hones Age above 18 years BPL category

2. Women and Children with Disabilities

2.1 The Gharonda (Aashraya Griha) Yojna provides accommodation in government shelter homes to children with autism, cerebral palsy, mental retardation and multiple disabilities.

Sr. No.	Issuing Authority	Notification No.	Details
1	Department of Social Welfare		Gharonda (Aashraya Griha) Yojna: Accommodation in govt shelter homes for children with Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Mental retardation & multiple disabilities Age up to 18 years

3. Education

3.1 Scholarship is provided to students with disabilities. Reader allowance is provided to students with visual impairment.

3.2 The Samarthya Vikas Yojna scheme provides students with disabilities scientific equipment and laboratory apparatus.

3.3 A braille press has been set up to provide study material / learning aids for students with visual impairment. Residential schools have been established for children with disabilities that provide food, clothing and shelter in addition to education and training.

Sr. No.	Issuing Authority	Details
1	Social Welfare Department	Scholarship and reader allowance for disabled students Primary / Pre-matriculation / Secondary / Senior Secondary – Rs. 50 to Rs. 240 per month (based on class) Reader allowance – Rs. 50 to Rs. 100 per month (based on class)
2	Social Welfare Department	Samarthya Vikas Yojna Scheme: Scientific equipment and laboratory apparatus for disabled students
3	Social Welfare Department	Establishment of Braille press Establishment of residential schools for disabled children

4. Skill Development and Employment

4.1 The Chhattisgarh Nishaktjan Vitan & Vikas Nigam provides loans with low interest rates to persons with disabilities for starting their own businesses.

4.2 The Uthan Subsidy Yojna is a scheme for persons with disabilities availing loans for self-employment. The government provides 50 per cent subsidy on the remaining loan if the disabled person pays all the instalments regularly for three years.

Sr. No.	Issuing Authority	Notification No.	Details
1	Social Welfare Department		Nishaktjan Vitan & Vikas Nigam: Loans at low interest rates for starting business
2	Social Welfare Department		Uthan Subsidy Yojna Scheme: For loans taken for self employment 50% subsidy on remaining loan by govt if all instalments paid regularly for three years

5. Social Security, Health, Rehabilitation and Recreation

5.1   The Indira Gandhi Viklang Pension Yojna is a pension scheme for persons with disabilities.

5.2   The Indira Gandhi Vridhawastha Pension Yojna is an old age pension scheme that covers everyone above the age of 65 years including persons with disabilities.

5.3   The Nishaktjan Vivah Yojna is a marriage scheme that provides assistance for marriage for persons with disabilities.

5.4 Chhattisgarh provides assistive devices like hearing aids, callipers, wheelchairs, tricycles and Braille writing equipment to persons with disabilities.

Sr. No.	Issuing Authority	Details
1	Social Welfare Department	Indira Gandhi Viklang Pension Scheme: Disability pension Pension – Rs. 200 per month Age between 18 – 64 years Total family income should not exceed Rs. 10,000 per annum Disability 80% or more / multiple disabilities
2	Social Welfare Department	Indira Gandhi Vridhawastha Pension Scheme: Disability pension for disabled senior citizens Pension – Rs. 300 per month Age above 65 years Should belong to BPL category
3	Social Welfare Department	Nishaktjan Vivah Yojna Scheme: Marriage assistance for disabled persons Grant – Rs. 21,000 Women: Age between 18 – 45 years Men: Age between 21 – 45 years
4	Social Welfare Department	Provision of assistive devices such as hearing aids, callipers, wheelchairs, tricycles and Braille slates

6. Accessibility

6.1 The government of Chhattisgarh is yet to implement schemes and policies under accessibility.

7. Certification

7.1 Chief Medical Officer of each district is the issuing authority for disability certificates. Parents / guardians may submit application on behalf of children / persons with mental disabilities

Sr. No.	Issuing Authority	Notification No.	Details
1	Social Welfare Department		Application for disability certificates CMO of each district is issuing authority Application also to govt doctors treating disabled person Documents required: Proof of residence 2 Passport size photographs

8. Schemes & Grants for Organisations & Individuals for Disabilities

8.1 Voluntary organisations for persons with disabilities in the field of education are granted funds for their activities and given certification by the government.

Sr. No.	Issuing Authority	Notification No.	Details
1	Social Welfare Department		Certification and funding for voluntary organisations for education

9. Disability Authorities

Chhattisgarh has two authorities responsible for the welfare of persons with disabilities:

Department of Social Welfare
Commissioner for Disabilities.

[1]. http://socialjustice.nic.in/statewisedisabled.php

[2]. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chhattisgarh

For more details visit http://editors.cis-india.org/accessibility/blog/the-chhattisgarh-chapter-revised

National Resource Kit: The Andhra Chapter (Revised)

anandi — 2014-02-12T05:21:41Z

The National Resource Kit team is pleased to bring you its research on the state of laws, policies and programmes for persons with disabilities in the state of Andhra Pradesh.

This chapter was revised based on the comments and feedback received from our readers.

The Department for Women, Children, Disabled and Senior Citizens is responsible for the welfare of persons with disabilities in Andhra Pradesh. The state has an estimated population of 13,64,981[1] persons with disabilities of the total population of 84,655,533[2] people. The state has issued three notifications under General Entitlements, one notification under Women & Children with Disabilities, four notifications under Education, ten notifications under Skill Development and Employment, ten notifications under Social Security, Health &Rehabilitation and Recreation, three notifications under Accessibility and has identified and notified medical boards for disability certification.

1. General Entitlements

1.1 Persons with disabilities with 40% or more disability may apply for the benefits under the schemes implemented by government / NGOs.
1.2 Dwarf persons are included in the category of locomotor disabled.
1.3 AP Tax on Professions, Trades, Callings and Employments Act 1987 exempts persons with disabilities from payment of professional tax.

Sr. No.	Issuing Authority	Notification No.	Details
1	Department for Women, Children, Disabled and Senior Citizens	G.O.MS.No. 27, dated: 09.08.2000	People with at least 40% disability may apply for Govt / NGOs schemes
2	Revenue Department	G.O.MS.No. 1063 Dated: 02.08.2007	Exemption from professional tax

2. Women & Children with Disabilities

2.1 Girls with 80% or more disability are eligible for benefits under GCPS.[3]

Sr. No.	Issuing Authority	Notification No.	Details
1	Department for Women, Children, Disabled and Senior Citizens	Memo No. 7861/JJ/A1/2004, Dated 11.06.2008	Girls with 80% or more disability eligible for GCPS Annual family income not more than Rs. 1,00,000 Single child / both children girls conditions are not applicable Girls with one / two brothers also eligible

3. Education

3.1 Post matric scholarship / fee reimbursements provided to disabled students in govt / university colleges / institutions and Category A convenor quota students in private colleges.

3.2 Exemption from 2nd and 3rd languages to students with hearing impairment at SSC level.

3.3 Concessions in evaluation, scribe, language exemption and extra time provided to students appearing for Class 7 and Class 10 public examination.

3.4 Disabled students whose annual family income does not exceed Rs. 1,00,000 are eligible to apply for scholarships / fee reimbursements.

S.No.	Issuing Authority	Notification No.	Details
1	Department for Women, Children, Disabled and Senior Citizens	G.O.MS.No. 21 Dated: 3.07.2008	Post matric Scholarship & fee reimbursement for govt / university colleges / institutions All eligible applicants entitled for reimbursement Fees directly reimbursed to institutions No fees to be collected during admission
2	Education (Exams) Department	G.O.Rt.No.1161 Edn. Dated:24.06.1992	Exemption from 2nd & 3rd language for hearing impaired students at SSC level Divisions awarded based on performance in other papers
3	Education (Exams) Department	G.O.Ms.No. 33 Dated: 19.03.2001	Concessions to students appearing for Class 7 and Class 10 exams Minimum marks required for passing is 20 Jumbling system for evaluation abolished and only trained teachers engaged Scribe provided to visually impaired students is of Class 10 Exemption from 2nd and 3rd languages and fees is applicable to all disabled students Half hour extra time during exams provided to all disabled students from classes 7th to 10th
4	Department for Women, Children, Disabled and Senior Citizens	G.O.MS.No. 9 Dated: 10.4.2008	Scholarship for students with annual family income not exceeding Rs. 1,00,000 Books / instruments – ITI / Polytechnic students Musical instruments – Professional music students Scholarships – Students with mental disabilities & research scholars Typewriting / Short hand / Examination coaching – Professional examinations

4. Skill Development & Employment

4.1 Reservation of 3% in all state government positions for persons with disabilities. Preference given for those with higher degree of disability.

4.2 Reservation for identified posts will be carried forward for three consecutive years for recruitment of suitable candidate. If candidate with right disability for the reserved post is not identified, the post will be filled by interchanging among the three categories. Disabled women given 33% reservation within the 3%reservation on a rotational basis between the three categories.

4.3 3% reservation for promotion of persons with disabilities applicable to all the services of the state government with cadre strength more than five. Candidates must be fully qualified and eligible under existing rules and guidelines.

4.4 Persons with disabilities are allowed age relaxation of ten years on upper age limit for recruitment to government employment and exempted from the application fee for applying to the Andhra Pradesh Public Service Commission.

4.5 The rural development scheme with standard schedule rates for persons with disabilities employed for wages in rural development provides that wage rates for persons with disabilities would be operated at 30 per cent extra over the rural standard schedule rates on items of labour component only.

4.6 Persons with disabilities are given three per cent reservation in the allotment of fair price shops.

4.7 Three per cent of the shops and stalls constructed by the municipality will be leased to persons with disabilities for a payment of Rs. 2.50 per square feet or 50 per cent of the rent being paid by the neighbouring shop considering whichever is lower without the regular channel of public auction.

4.8 Persons with visual impairment who completed SSC / higher education directly without qualifying Class 7 are eligible for posts of attender / Group 4 posts in the Andhra Pradesh Last Grade Services.

4.9 Persons with disabilities who completed graduation / post graduation directly without completing Intermediate are eligible to apply for Group 4 posts in AP Ministerial Services / other services except at the office of the Head of Department where Intermediate is prescribed as minimum qualification.

4.10 Persons with disabilities given three per cent reservation in all coaching / training facilities and programmes of welfare departments for attempting competitive examinations.

S.No.	Issuing Authority	Notification Number	Details
1	Department for Women, Children, Disabled and Senior Citizens	G.O.MS. NO. 56 Dated: 02.12.2003	3% reservation in employment, preference for those with greater disability
2	Department for Women, Children, Disabled and Senior Citizens	G.O.Ms.No. 23 Dated: 26.05.2011	Carrying forward of reservation, interchanging among categories and reservation for women with disabilities
3	Department for Women, Children, Disabled and Senior Citizens	G.O.MS.No. 42 Dated: 19.10.2011	3% reservation for promotion in government employment
4	Department for Women, Children, Disabled and Senior Citizens	G.O.MS. No. 22 Dated: 25.05.2011	10 years relaxation in age limit and exemption from application fees for applying for government jobs
5	Panchayati Raj and Rural Development Department	G.O.MS.No. 146 Dated: 24.4.2007	Wages for persons with disabilities employed in rural development Applicable only if all persons in the group are disabled.
6	Food, Civil Supplies and consumer Affairs Department	G.O.Ms.No.99 Dated: - 22-10-1998	3% reservation in allotment of fair price shops
7	Municipal Administration and Urban Development Department	G.O.Ms.No. 63 M.A Dated: 14.02.1996	3% reservation in allotment of municipal shops and stalls
8	General Administration Department	G.O.Ms.No. 34 Dated:17-05-2003	Eligibility of VI persons without Class 7 qualification to apply for Group 4 posts In case of non availability of visually impaired candidates with the basic educational qualification prescribed for the posts in Service Rules.
9	General Administration Department	G.O Ms.NO.33 Dated:03-02-2003	Eligibility to apply for Group 4 posts for disabled persons without the qualification of intermediate Posts such as junior assistants/ junior typists / junior stenographers / junior accountant
10	Department for Women, Children, Disabled and Senior Citizens	G.O.Ms.No. 32 Dated: 13.07.2011	3% reservation in coaching and training facilities in welfare departments for competitive exams

5. Social Security, Health & Rehabilitation, and Recreation

5.1 Persons with disabilities are awarded a pension of Rs. 500 per month. In case of minor children, the pension will be given to the parents of the child.

5.2 Three percent of housing sites are reserved for persons with disabilities with annual income not exceeding Rs. 11,000 and will be allotted free of cost.

Adult, unmarried persons with disabilities also are eligible for allotment of houses / flats under the Housing Department as separate units / families. The ground floor of all the houses under the Indira MMS scheme are reserved for persons with disabilities and the flats / houses are designed to be disability friendly. In case of persons with mental disabilities, the house / flat is allotted to the guardian in the name of the person with the disability.

5.3 Persons with disabilities are eligible to receive at least three per cent reservation in physical or financial coverage in the poverty alleviation schemes of the state departments and local authorities.

5.4 Marriage grant of Rs. 10,000 is provided to couples for marriage between person with disabilities and person without disabilities.

5.5 Persons with disabilities may enjoy benefits under multiple schemes irrespective of the nature of the benefit to them provided that each benefit / scheme gives a different type of support or rehabilitative support to them.

5.6 Students with 80% or more disabilities pursuing higher education / professional education are given direct loans from the government for procuring improved prosthetic aids or motorised vehicles from the funds given to the Managing Director, Andhra Pradesh Vikalangula Co-operative Corporation.

5.7 State government employees with disabilities are eligible for conveyance allowance at 10% of their basic pay to a maximum of Rs. 650 per month. Vehicle maintenance allowance is provided to persons with disabilities at the rates mentioned in the table below.

Sr. No.	Issuing Authority	Notification No.	Details
1	Panchayati Raj and Rural Development Department	G.O.MS.No. 454 Dated: 14.11.2008	Rs. 500 disability pension per month
2	Panchayati Raj and Rural Development Department	G.O.MS.No. 117 Dated: 29.03.2007	Disability pension provided to all. In case of disabled children, parents given the pension
3	Social Welfare Department	G.O.Ms.No.133 Dated: 17.09.1997	3% housing sites allotted free of cost to persons with disabilities with annual income less than 11,000
4	Housing Department	G.O.RT.No. 106 Dated: 27.3.2008	Persons with disabilities allotted houses / flats under Housing Board Ground floor of apartments reserved for persons with disabilities Guardians of mentally disabled are allotted houses / flats in the name of the beneficiary
5	Department for Women, Children, Disabled and Senior Citizens	G.O.MS.No. 1 Dated: 9.01.2002	3% reservation in Coverage in poverty alleviation schemes
6	Department for Women, Children, Disabled and Senior Citizens	G.O.MS.No. 18 Dated: 19.6.2008	Marriage grant of Rs. 10,000 for marriage between disabled and non-disabled persons
7	Department for Women, Children, Disabled and Senior Citizens	G.O.MS.No. 19, Dated: 25.6.2008	Granting enjoyment of multiple schemes like scholarship / pension / economic support at the same time as long as each scheme provides a different support
8	Department for Women, Children, Disabled and Senior Citizens	G.O.RT.No. 194 Dated: 30.06.2008	Government loans for procuring prosthetic aids and motorised vehicles Rs. 5000 given as incentive / subsidy Remaining amount not exceeding Rs. 60,000 – loan to be recovered in three years
9	Finance Department	G.O.Ms.No. 197 Dated:06-07-2006	Conveyance allowance to state government employees at 10% of basic pay not exceeding Rs. 650 p.m.
10	Finance Department	G.O.MS.No. 276 Dated: 15.10.2005	Vehicle maintenance allowance to persons with disabilities Cycles – Rs. 125 per month Motorised vehicles – Rs. 700 per month.

6. Accessibility

6.1 All departments / local authorities / agencies are required to provide barrier free environment in all new buildings and public utilities for easy access of persons with disabilities.

6.2 Teachers and lecturers with visual impairment are given readers allowance for engaging readers to access printed material.

6.3 Committee constituted to prescribe JAWS software knowledge and practical ability instead of or along with typewriting for visually impaired candidates for the posts of typists, stenographers and data entry operators.

Sr. No.	Issuing Authority	Notification No.	Details
1	Department for Women, Children, Disabled and Senior Citizens	G.O.MS.No. 30 Dated: 17.6.2002	Barrier free access to all new buildings and public utilities
2	Department for Women, Children, Disabled and Senior Citizens	G.O.MS.No. 34 Dated: 16.07.2010	Reader’s allowance for visually impaired teachers and lecturers Secondary grade teachers (including craft instructors) – Rs. 400 per month School assistants – Rs. 500 per month Junior lecturers and above – Rs. 600 per month
3	Department for Women, Children, Disabled and Senior Citizens	G.O. MS. No. 36 Dated: 03.08.2011	Committee for prescribing use of JAWS software for visually impaired typists / stenographers / data entry operators

7. Certification

7.1 All hospitals / government teaching hospitals in district head quarters are notified as district medical boards authorised to give certificates for persons with disabilities.

In case of loss of certificate, the person may apply to the board with FIR and the non-traceable certification from the police and a new certificate will be issued within 20 days of application.

Sr. No.	Issuing Authority	Notification No.	Details
1	Department for Women, Children, Disabled and Senior Citizens	G.O.MS.No. 31 Dated: 1.12.2009	All govt hospitals / govt teaching hospitals in district headquarters can issue disability certificates If original certificate is lost, application for duplicate should be made with FIR and police non traceable report Duplicate is issued within 20 days of application Disability-wise Appellate Boards: Orthopedically DISABLED / locomotor disability / dwarfs / hunchback / muscular dystrophy / leprosy-cured Osmania General Hospital, Hyderabad & Gandhi Hospital, Hyderabad Blindness / Low vision – Sarojini Devi Eye Hospital, Hyderabad Mental Retardation – Institute for Mental Health, HYDERABAD & National Institute for Mentally Handicapped Mental Illness – State Institute for Mental Health, Hyderabad Hearing Impairment – Government ENT Hospital, Koti, Hyderabad

8. Schemes & Grants for Organisations & Individuals for Disabilities

8.1 There are no specific grants or schemes for organisations or individuals operating in the field of disabilities.

9. Disability Authorities

Andhra Pradesh has two authorities responsible for the welfare of persons with disabilities:

Department for Women, Children, Disabled and Senior Citizens
Commissioner for Disabilities.

[1].http://socialjustice.nic.in/statewisedisabled.php

[2].http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andhra_Pradesh

[3]. Girl Child Protection Scheme

For more details visit http://editors.cis-india.org/accessibility/blog/national-resource-kit-andhra-pradesh-revised

National Resource Kit : The West Bengal Chapter (Call for Comments)

anandi — 2013-11-07T06:19:34Z

The National Resource Kit team is pleased to bring you its research on the state of laws, policies and programmes for persons with disabilities in the state of West Bengal.

Note: The chapter is an early draft and will undergo subsequent modifications. We welcome comments and feedback from our readers.

Executive Summary

The state of West Bengal has issued the West Bengal Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Rules 1999 to implement the provisions under the central Persons with Disabilities (Protection of Rights, Equal Opportunities and Full Participation) Act 1995.

The Department of Women and Child Development and Social Welfare is primarily responsible for the welfare of persons with disabilities in the state. The government of West Bengal has issued six notifications in education, ten notifications in employment and training, ten notifications in health and rehabilitation, ten notifications in social protection and two notifications in transport for persons with disabilities.

Capital: Kolkata

Population: 91,347,736

Population of persons with disabilities: 1,847,184

Literacy: 77.08%

HDI: 0.625 Ranked: 19th (2005 status)

Department: Department of Women and Child Development and Social Welfare

Other authorities: Office of the Chief Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities

Click to download the West Bengal chapter (PDF, 344 Kb)

For more details visit http://editors.cis-india.org/accessibility/blog/the-west-bengal-chapter

National Resource Kit : The Kerala Chapter (Call for Comments)

anandi — 2013-11-07T06:20:04Z

The National Resource Kit team is pleased to bring you its research on the state of laws, policies and programmes for persons with disabilities in the state of Kerala.

Note: The chapter is an early draft and will undergo subsequent modifications. We welcome comments and feedback from our readers.

Statistics

Capital: Tiruvananthapuram
HDI Rank: 1^st

Literacy: 1^st in India with a literacy of 93.91 per cent

Population:33,387,677
Population of Persons with Disability: 2.7 per cent. The district of Malappuram has the highest number of persons with disabilities, followed by Thiruvananthapuram and Ernakulam.[1]

Ministries and Departments

Department of Social Welfare – responsible for protection of rights of persons with disabilities.
Directorate of Social Welfare (under Department of Social Welfare) – nodal authority that implements central and state government programmes in Kerala.

Government run Organisations

The Kerala State Handicapped Persons Welfare Corporation
The Commissionerate of Persons with Disabilities
The National Institute of Speech and Hearing
The Central Social Welfare Board

Legal Provisions

Kerala does not have a legislation specifically for persons with disabilities in the state but implements the central legislation – the Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act 1995. The state also issues various schemes, policies and notifications for persons with disabilities. The Department of Social Welfare has implemented some central and state schemes for persons with disabilities in the state,[2] while some schemes are being implemented by the Kerala State Handicapped Persons Welfare Corporation (KSHPWC).[3] These are listed below under various categories as:

Accessibility
The Department of Local Self Governance vide G.O. (MS) No.41/11/LSGD, Thiruvananthapuram, dated 14/02/2011 have issued rules for housing which also include special provisions for accommodation of the requirements of persons with disabilities. These include provision of ramps, lifts, convenient parking slots and removal of architectural barriers.
Personal mobility

Persons with disabilities with a regular and reasonable income and having to travel regularly on work are given a subsidy of Rs. 2000 linked with bank loan for procuring motorised tricycles / vehicles.[4]

KSHPWC supplies aids and appliances every three years to Persons with Disabilities with annual income less than Rs. 60,000 (see note 3). These include: artificial limbs, tricycles, wheelchairs, callipers, crutches, hearing aids, white canes, colostomy bags, etc. The beneficiaries are selected at medical camps held at district, block and panchayat levels.
Subsidy of Rs.10,000 is provided by KSHPWC to each self-employed young disabled person for procuring motorized tricycle upon applying in the proper format with attested copies of original bill, registration and insurance documents, and photographs (see note 3).
Education
Through the Kerala Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Rules, 2010, the government provides free and compulsory education for children with disabilities until the age of 18. The rules also provide for inclusive education, special schools for severely disabled children, learning aids and appliances, training for special teachers and vocational training for children with disabilities.
Three seats are reserved for persons with disabilities in arts and science colleges and engineering colleges, nine seats are reserved in polytechnic colleges, five seats are reserved in ITIs, five per cent seats are reserved in junior technical colleges and 25 per cent seats are reserved for teachers in special schools (see note 4).

Scholarships are given to children with disabilities where annual income of parents is less than Rs. 24,000 at Rs. 30 per month for children in classes I – IV and Rs. 45 per month for children in classes V – VIII. For students in higher classes, scholarships are provided for day scholars and residential students with special allowance for readers. In addition to the scholarships, students with orthopaedic impairment are given Rs. 25 per month for maintenance of prosthetic / orthopaedic aids (at the recommendation of the head of the institution) and Rs. 50 per month as transportation allowance (see note 4).
Children with mental disabilities where the annual income of parents is less than Rs. 24,000 are given scholarships upto the age of 21 at the scale of Rs. 60 per month with dress allowance of Rs. 40 and school requisite allowance (see note 4).
The government runs two vocational training centres for persons with disabilities at Thiruvananthapuram and Kozhikode (see note 4).
Students with Disabilities who top their districts in the categories of Orthopaedic disability, speech and hearing impairment, visual impairment and mental retardation; in the SSLC and Higher Secondary exams are awarded Rs. 2,500 each. Awards of Rs. 5000 are given to state rank holders in the above categories (see note 3).
Health: Details of policies / schemes for health unavailable.
Rehabilitation: The state runs community based rehabilitation programmes and vocational training centres for persons with disabilities (see note 2).
Employment: The state provides three per cent reservation in classes I, II (videG.O. (RT) No. 291/2012/SWD dated, Thiruvananthapuram 20^th June 2012), III and IV (vide G.O. (P)No.20/98/P&ARd dated, Thiruvananthapuram, 14 July, 1998) of state government jobs and PSUs. Three per cent reservation is also provided on part-time contingency posts and one per cent worker class vacancies in the government, corporations and companies are reserved for persons with disabilities (see note 4).

An age relaxation of ten years on the upper age limit is provided to persons with disabilities for applying to government jobs. Upto 10 grace marks can be given to persons with disabilities at the discretion of the Public Service Commission for direct recruitment to various posts except those that are specifically excluded (see note 4).
Persons with disabilities are allowed a special casual leave of 15 days for treating an illness that is directly connected with their disability vide G.O. (P) 249/84/Fin. Dated 9–5–84.
Loans for self employment are being given to persons with disabilities by banks through KSHPWC for setting up self employment programmes. A subsidy of Rs. 2000 linked with the bank loan is given to each beneficiary (see note 4).
KSHPWC channelizes loans from the National Handicapped Finance and Development Corporation to Persons with Disabilities at low interest rates for self-employment. Applicants must have at least 40 per cent disability and their family income should not exceed Rs. 3,00,000 for rural and Rs. 5,00,000 for urban applicants (see note 3).
KSHPWC runs the following commercial units to provide employment to persons with disabilities (see note 4): Sowbhagya Department Store – Thiruvananthapuram, Sowbhagya Department Store – Kozhikode, Sowbhagya Extension Counter, MLA Quarters – Thiruvananthapuram, Photocopier Unit, MLA Quarters – Thiruvananthapuram, and Envelope Making Unit – Thiruvananthapuram.
KSHPWC together with the Kerala State Lotteries Department implements the scheme through which disabled persons are identified throughout the state for undertaking agency for Lottery tickets and are given financial assistance of Rs. 5,000 for purchase and sale of lottery tickets.

Social Protection

Persons with disabilities in the categories of vision impaired, hearing impaired and orthopaedically disabled whose annual family income does not exceed Rs.3,600 are given a disability pension of Rs.85 per month.
Conveyance allowance of Rs.100 for vision impaired and locomotor disabled employees of aided schools and government departments and Rs.50 for part time employees are given vide G.O.(P) No. 521/87/Fin, dated 15.6.87.
Free travel facility is provided to the vision impaired on buses and boats and for the locomotor disabled on buses. Persons with 50 per cent or more locomotor disabilities are given 70 per cent concession on private buses to travel upto 40 kilometres (see note 4).
A distress relief fund has been created for persons with disabilities vide G.O. (MS) No. 4/95/SWD dated 24/1/95. A maximum amount of Rs. 2000 can be given for a case in a financial year and the amount can be extended to Rs. 8000 in exceptional cases. Persons with disabilities whose annual income does not exceed Rs. 12,000 can claim financial assistance for the following reasons (see note 4): for medical treatment including surgery, disability incurred due to an accident, any other purposes not covered by existing schemes for persons with disabilities, grant by the government under the grant-in-aid to persons with disabilities under the Deendayal Disabled Scheme (see note 2).
Under the Rajiv One Million Housing Scheme (see note 4), one per cent of the houses constructed for the economically backward class have been reserved for persons with disabilities.
KSHPWC operates a scheme for children who are below 8 years of age and have 60 per cent or more disability and whose parent’s have an annual income of less than Rs.60,000, the corporation deposits an amount of Rs. 15,000 for boys and Rs.20,000 for girls. The fund under this scheme is released after the child attains the age of 18 years for self-employment or marriage or as per requests after assessing the case. (see note 3).
A scheme run by the state offers marriage assistance to women with disabilities and to daughters of Persons with Disabilities (see note 2).
KSHPWC runs an old-age home for persons with disabilities at Parassala (see note 3).

Miscellaneous

State awards of Rs. 3000 per head are given to outstanding and efficient employees among persons with disabilities (see note 4)
Persons with disabilities are exempted from professional tax and road tax. They are given an additional income tax exemption of Rs. 5000 (see note 4).
The state also gives grant-in-aid for voluntary organisations running homes for the disabled and financial assistance for advocates with orthopaedic or visual impairment (see note 2).

Government Orders

Category	Headline	Issuing Authority	Number & Date	Briefs
Employment	Public Services Reservations for Physically Handicapped Persons – three per cent reservation for Class III and Class IV posts	Personnel and Administrative Reforms (Advice) Department	G.O. (P)No.20/98/P&ARD Dated, Thiruvananthapuram, 14 July, 1998	Orders issued for a maximum of 50 appointments each in the categories of subordinate service, last grade service and part-time contingent service being set apart every year for the appointment of persons with disabilities to the public services.
Employment	Reservation of three per cent vacancies in Class I and II posts in Public Services for appointment of physically disabled persons – post of Assistant Engineer (Civil), Public Works Department – eligibility for full participation in the selection process and appointment in respect of certain categories of physically disabled persons – clarified orders	Social Welfare Department	G.O. (RT) No. 291/2012/SWD. Dated, Thiruvananthapuram 20^th June 2012	This order has been issued in clarification to earlier orders issued for identification of posts for Persons with Disabilities.
Building construction	Kerala Panchayat Building Rules 2011	Local Self Governance Department	G.O. (MS) No.41/11/LSGD Dated, Thiruvananthapuram 14/02/2011.	Notification has been issued to regulate building construction. Provides for accessibility and elimination of architectural barriers.

Special Schools and Vocational Training Centres

Centre for Training and Rehabilitation of the Mentally Retarded, Thiruvananthapuram
Adarsha Rehabilitation Institute for Spastics and Neurologically Impaired, Kochi
Asha Niketan, Kozhikode
Jagathy Government School for the Blind, Thiruvananthapuram
Jagathy Government BHSS for the Deaf, Thiruvananthapuram
Kunnamkulam GS for the Blind, Kunnamkulam, Thrissur
Kunnamkulam GS for the Deaf, Kunnamkulam, Thrissur

Non Governmental Organisations for Persons with Disabilities

National Association of the Blind, Thiruvananthapuram
Kerala Federation of the Blind, Thiruvananthapuram
Kerala Institution of the Blind, Thrissur
All Kerala Association of the Deaf, Thrissur
Kerala Government Deaf Employees Union
Association for the Welfare of the Handicapped, Kozhikode
Kerala State Physically Handicapped Employees Association

For more details visit http://editors.cis-india.org/accessibility/blog/national-resource-kerala-chapter-call-for-comments

National Resource Kit : The Haryana Chapter (Revised)

anandi — 2014-02-20T09:00:49Z

The National Resource Kit team is pleased to bring you its research on the state of laws, policies and programmes for persons with disabilities in the state of Haryana.

Note: The chapter was revised based on the comments and feedback from our readers.

Introduction

The Department of Social Justice and Empowerment is responsible for the welfare of persons with disabilities in Haryana. The state has an estimated population of 4,55,040 persons with disabilities in a total population of 25,353,081.

Haryana implements two schemes under Women and Children with Disabilities, three schemes under Education, three schemes under Skill Development and Employment, and five schemes under Social Security, Health, Rehabilitation and Recreation.

1. General Entitlements

Haryana does not implement any scheme / policy that can be listed in this category.

2. Women & Children with Disabilities

2.1 Financial assistance is provided to children with disabilities not attending school due to their disability.

2.2 Haryana provides financial assistance to children of persons with disabilities.

Sr. No.	Issuing Authority	Notification No.	Details
1	Social Justice & Empowerment Department	No. 2351-SW(4)-2008 Dated: 30.01.2009	Financial assistance to disabled children not attending school due to disability
2	Social Justice & Empowerment Department	No. 1953-SW(4)-2009 Dated: 30.10.2009	Financial assistance for non school going children with severe disability Disability more than 70% / IQ less than 50% for mental disability Assistance of Rs. 300 per month Assistance provided to multiple children from same family Age up to 18 years Domiciled and resided in Haryana for past six months Total family income not to exceed Rs. 3510 per month Beneficiaries drawing other assistance are not eligible to apply
3	Social Justice & Empowerment Department		Financial assistance to children of persons with disabilities Assistance – Rs. 500 per month Age below 21 years Total family income not exceeding Rs. 30,000 per annum Domiciled and residing in Haryana

3. Education

3.1 Rules outlined for residential school for visually impaired students ‘Government Institute for the Blind’ in Panipat. Application forms available at the offices of Dy Commissioner, SDOs (Civil), Tehsildars and Department of Social Justice & Empowerment DSJE).

3.2 Scholarship is provided to disabled students. Applicants should not be in receipt of assistance from any other source. Rates of scholarship listed below:

Sr. No.	Class	Scholarship (Day scholars) per month	Scholarship (hostellers) per month	Reader Allowance (only visually impaired) per month
1	Class 1 – 4	400/-	-	-
2	Class 5 – 8	500/-	-	-
3	Class 9 – 12	600/-	600/-	300/-
4	B.A/B.Sc/B.Com	600/-	800/-	400/-
5	B.E/B.Tech./MBBS/LLB/B.Ed and diploma in professional & engineering studies etc.	800/-	1000/-	500/-
6	MA/MSC/M.Com/LLM/M.Ed/M.Tech etc	1000/-	1000/-	500/-

Sr. No.	Issuing Authority	Notification No.	Details
1	Department of Social Justice & Empowerment	No. GA.I SW. 71, Dated Chandigarh	Rules for residential school for the visually impaired Age between 6 – 18 years Eligibility up to middle school Domiciled and residing in Haryana
2	Department of Social Justice & Empowerment	No. 1971 /DDSW-GA-II/71	Criteria for scholarship Age up to 20 years Total family income not exceeding Rs. 10,000 per month Domiciled and residing in Haryana
3	Department of Social Justice & Empowerment	Memo No. 848-SW(4)-2011 Chandigarh, dated 28-11-2011	Rates of scholarship (given in table above)

4. Skill Development & Employment

4.1 Rules outlined for residential skill training facility for the visually impaired ‘Training Centre for Adult Blind’ at Panipat. Application forms available at the offices of Dy Commissioners, SDOS (Civil), Tehsildars and DSJE.

4.2 Annual awards given to most efficient disabled employees, disabled self-employed, outstanding employers and placement officers for disabled.

S.No	Category of Award	Nature of the Award No. of Awards	Present rates and certificate	Revised rates and certificates
1	Employee/ Self Employed	First Prize (one) Second Prize (one) Third Prize (two) Fourth Prize(three)	Rs.5000/- and certificate Rs. 4000/- ad certificate Rs. 3000/- and certificate Rs. 2000/- and certificate	Rs. 10000/- and certificates. Rs. 8000/- and certificate Rs. 6000/- and certificate Rs. 4000/- and certificate.
2	Employers of disabled	First Prize (one) Second Prize (one)	A big shield and certificate of merit. A small shield and certificate of merit.	Rs. 5000/- and certificate of merit. Rs. 3000/- and certificate of merit.
3	Placement Officer of disabled	One Prize	Rs. 4000/- and certificate of merit.	Rs. 8000/- and certificate of merit.

4.3 Age relaxation up to 10 years in the upper age limit for joining government service for persons with disabilities. Retirement age of persons with 70% or more disability is increased to 60 years.

Sr. No.	Issuing Authority	Notification No.	Details
1	Department of Social Justice & Empowerment	No. GA.I SW. 71, Dated Chandigarh No. 1971 /DDSW-GA-II/71	Rules for residential skill training unit for visually impaired Trainees granted maintenance for 3 years Extra 6 months for persons above 52 years old Domiciled and residing in Haryana
2	Department of Social Justice & Empowerment	No. 1759SW(1) /2008 Chandigarh, Dated: 4.02.2008	Awards for disabled employees, employers and placement officers (for details see table above)
3	Department of Social Justice & Empowerment		10 years relaxation in upper age limit in recruitment to govt service Retirement age increased to 60 years for persons with 70% or more disability

5. Social Security, Health, Rehabilitation and Recreation

5.1 Unemployment allowance given to all educated unemployed persons with disabilities. Rates of allowance are:

Sr. No.	Education	Allowance per month	Allowance per month for 100% disabled
1	Matric/ Middle Pass Diploma Holder	Rs. 200	Rs. 1000
2	Graduate/ Matric Pass Diploma Holder	Rs. 250	Rs. 1500
3	Post Graduate, Graduate Diploma Holder	Rs. 300	Rs. 2000

5.2 Disability pension to persons with 70% or more disability (IQ less than 50 for persons with mental disabilities). (note 3)

5.3 Financial assistance of Rs. 500 per month to dwarf persons. (note 3)

5.4 Persons with visual impairment and 100% orthopaedic impairment are eligible for free travel on state transport buses. Disabled employees of the state government are provided a conveyance allowance of 10% on basic pay. (note 4)

5.5 Visually impaired employees of the state government are given priority in allotment of government accommodation. (note 4)

Sr. No.	Issuing Authority	Notification No.	Details
1	Department of Social Justice & Empowerment	No. 3012-SW (1)2003. Dated, 8.12.2003 No. 94-SW (1)2007. Dated: 24.01.2007	Unemployment allowance (for rates see table above) Allowance given for 6 years from date of registration with employment exchange Applicants must not be in receipt of any other assistance
2	Department of Social Justice & Empowerment		Disability pension for persons with 70% or more disability (less than 50 IQ for mentally disabled) Pension – Rs. 500 per month Pension (for 80% or more disability) – Rs. 750 per month Income not to exceed income of unskilled labourers as specified by Labour Department.
3	Department of Social Justice & Empowerment		Financial assistance of Rs. 500 per month to dwarf persons
4	Department of Social Justice & Empowerment		Free travel on state transport buses for persons with visual impairment and 100% orthopaedic impairment 10% conveyance allowance for government employees with disabilities
5	Department of Social Justice & Empowerment		Priority for visually impaired employees in allotment of govt accommodation

6. Accessibility

6.1 The government of Haryana is yet to implement schemes and policies under accessibility.

7.    Certification

7.1 Haryana has not identified any hospital / medical officer for issueing of disability certificates.

8.    Schemes & Grants for Organisations & Individuals for Disabilities

8.1    The government of Haryana is yet to implement schemes and policies under this category.

9. Disability Authorities

Haryana has two authorities responsible for the welfare of persons with disabilities:

Department of Social Justice and Empowerment
Commissioner for Disabilities

For more details visit http://editors.cis-india.org/accessibility/blog/national-resource-haryana-chapter-call-for-comments

National Policy on Universal Electronic Accessibility – An Analysis

anandi — 2013-12-27T07:49:47Z

Electronics and Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) are widely used in all areas of life such as education, health care, employment, entertainment, banking and finance management and other aspects of daily living.

They not only make life easier for people in general, but have the potential to revolutionise the lives of persons with disabilities through larger inclusion and participation in these areas and by enabling independent living through use of appropriate assistive technologies (ATs).

In the year 2010, the erstwhile Department of Information Technology, Government of India circulated a draft consultation paper on the National Policy for Electronic Accessibility that sought to regulate the provision of accessible Electronics and ICTs services and products and universal design concepts for persons with disabilities. Post consultation and deliberation, the Government of India has passed the National Policy on Universal Electronic Accessibility (National Policy) in 2013. This is a brief analysis of the policy and the provisions therein.

The draft consultation paper had clearly identified the requirements of persons with disabilities that had to be kept in view while designing electronic accessibility solutions:

Eliminating discrimination on the basis of disabilities and facilitating equal access to Information and Communication Technologies and Electronics (ICTE)
Understanding the diversity of persons with disabilities and creating solutions for their specific needs
Ensuring that accessibility standards and guidelines and universal design concepts are adopted and adhered to.

While the draft consultation paper only sought to provide equal access to ICTE products and services to persons with disabilities, the objective of the National Policy has been expanded to include not just equal but also barrier free access. The category of disabilities has also been expanded to include mental disabilities. Further, the policy seeks to facilitate local language support and sync universal access with barrier free access that should be usable without adaptation.

The scope of the National Policy continues to cover access to ICTE products and services to persons with disabilities in the areas of universal design, assistive technologies and independent living aids as in the draft consultation paper, but the National Policy expands on the broad roles and functions of the major stakeholders.

The National Policy clearly defines the following points that were not discussed in the Draft Consultation Paper:

The Department of Electronics and Technology is named as the nodal authority for monitoring the implementation of the policy.
Recommends constitution of a high level advisory committee of multiple stakeholders – central and state. ministries and department, industry, academia, disabled persons organisations and persons with disabilities for guiding and implementing the policy.
Recommends an amendment in the Information Technology (IT) Act to protect persons with disabilities who inadvertently break the law.
Lays emphasis on providing support in local languages to accessible Electronics and ICTs.

The strategy and Action Plan defined in the Draft Consultation Paper have been augmented and restructured to include the following points described in the National Policy:

Creating awareness on universal electronics accessibility and universal design

The National Policy specifically provides that the Department of Electronics and Information Technology will play the lead role.
Other central and state ministries, departments and agencies will also be responsible.
Carried out through Media, campaigns, conferences, workshops and seminars.
Will also include available and emerging assistive technologies and independent living aids and schemes.
Information to be made available in public domain in local languages in accessible format.

Capacity building and Infrastructure Development

The National Policy requires that schemes for capacity building on accessibility and assistive technologies be taken up within the government and for persons with disabilities.

Education and Assistive Technologies Centres

Accessibility standards and guidelines and universal design concepts to be included in the curriculum of Electronics and ICTs education.
Assistive technologies and independent living aids to be included in the curriculum of Special Education and Rehabilitation.
Model Electronics and ICTs centres to be set up to provide training and demonstration to special educators and persons with disabilities including persons with mental disabilities.

Conducting research and development

To develop assistive technologies and independent living aids based on accessibility standards and guidelines and universal design concepts
To provide incentives for the research and development of such products
To formulate schemes to support research and development organisations for developing such products
To include persons with disabilities and rehabilitation professionals in formulation, implementation and monitoring the schemes.

Accessibility Standards

The draft consultation paper provides that the accessibility standards and guidelines be taken or modified from existing standards and guidelines in accessibility
The National Policy specifically names existing accessibility standards and guidelines such as the following as examples

W3C Accessibility Standards
ATAG (Authoring Tools Accessibility Guidelines)
WCAG 2.0 (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines)
UAAG (User Agent Accessibility Guidelines)

Accessibility compliance would be monitored for government websites, websites for disability issues, general citizen centric websites and important websites with high traffic or high consumer transaction.

Accessible format for content

Content published in electronic format including text books, journals, publications, multimedia etc are required to be published in accessible format
Support in local languages to be provided for all content

Developing programmes and schemes

The National Policy lays emphasis on schemes for women and children with disabilities

Developing procurement guidelines for Electronics and ICTs for accessibility and assistive needs

The draft Consultation Paper merely states that ICTE procurement guidelines and processes should include accessibility standards and guidelines.
The National Policy requires that Electronics and ICTs procurement policies be evolved to confirm to the requirements of the National Policy.
Higher cost of accessibility compliant hardware and software to be budgeted for at procurement.
Incentives to be provided by the government to assist with the procurement of such products.
Any scheme formulated by the central or state governments for persons with disabilities should be linked with ongoing schemes for universal electronic accessibility.

Affordable Access

The Draft Consultation Paper requires that schemes be formulated to provide access to ICTE services and products to persons with disabilities at affordable costs.
Information about these schemes to be made available in the public domain in local languages in accessible format.
The National Policy promotes open source usage to meet affordable access requirements.

For more details visit http://editors.cis-india.org/accessibility/blog/national-policy-on-universal-electronic-accessibility-analysis

Creating a National Resource Kit for Persons with Disabilities: An Introduction

anandi — 2013-03-18T05:58:04Z

The Centre for Internet & Society is engaged in a two-and-a-half year project starting from August 2012 to create a national resource kit of state-wise laws, policies and programmes on issues relating to persons with disabilities in India. This project is supported by the Hans Foundation. The Resource Kit will be brought out in both English and Hindi and disseminated to policy makers from panchayat to ministry levels throughout India.

CIS hopes that this resource kit will immensely benefit the disabled community in India by providing them with a ready reference on the facilities given by the government.

More often than not a facility isn’t enjoyed by the public as no one knows about its existence. It becomes important then to make it accessible and give it exposure. The National Resource Kit of Laws, Policies and Programmes for Persons with Disabilities will fill this gap of lack of comprehensive information in this field.

The rights of persons with disabilities have for long been a topic of international discussion in various forums. It is essential to not just promote, protect and ensure the full and equal enjoyment of all human rights of persons with disabilities but also promote respect for their dignity. Making legal provisions for the rights of persons with disabilities is not only a mechanism that ensures that they have access to human rights but also a tool that enables them to contribute to the growth of their nation by providing them with the facilities that aid them in overcoming their challenges and enable them to lead fruitful lives.

To provide persons with disabilities in India equal opportunity for liberty, equality and dignity on par with all citizens, India has enacted three disability laws:

Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act, 1995.
National Trust for Persons with Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Mental Retardation and Multiple Disability Act, 1999.
Rehabilitation Council of India Act, 1992.

India is now in the process of drafting a new law on the rights of persons with disabilities that aims to fill the gaps in the earlier laws through a deeper understanding of the real issues faced by them and providing solutions and opportunities on par with international standards.

Despite the existing legal provisions, the populace that continues to struggle with consuming issues like overpopulation, poverty, unemployment and lack of resources, often tend to neglect issues which concern persons with disabilities. An overwhelming public opinion that considers persons with disabilities to be incapable of making meaningful contribution to the society due to their disability has led to the exclusion of persons with disabilities from mainstream society.

One of the major reasons for this exclusion and neglect is the lack of awareness about the various facilities being extended by the government to persons with disabilities targeted at enabling them to overcome their challenges. Generating awareness by providing them with information that will help them gain access to education, vocational skills, employment training and opportunities and healthcare is a vital step in ensuring that the legal rights of persons with disabilities are enabled for them.

For more details visit http://editors.cis-india.org/accessibility/creating-a-national-resource-kit-for-persons-with-disabilities