Lok Sabha Question No. 287 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-07-19
Subject: Scholarship Scheme for Differently Abled Students
Ministry: SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT
Asked by: Basanta Kumar Panda

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SOCIAL JUSTICE & EMPOWERMENT DEPARTMENT OF EMPOWERMENT OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 287

TO BE ANSWERED ON 19.07.2022

## SCHOLARSHIP SCHEME FOR DIFFERENTLY ABLED STUDENTS

## 287. SHRI BASANTA KUMAR PANDA:

Will the Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment be pleased to state:

- (a)   the number of differently abled students in Odisha and the number of students  covered under various scholarship schemes run by the Government, district-wise;
- (b)   whether the Government is satisfied with the coverage of differently abled students under the said schemes;
- (c)   if not, the remedial steps taken by the Government to provide scholarships to all  differently abled students in Odisha;  and
- (d)   the other steps taken by the Government for the comprehensive development of   differently abled citizens and for providing assistance to them in the country?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT (SUSHRI PRATIMA BHOUMIK)

(a):  Ministry  does  not  compile  information  relating  to  Students  with  disabilities.  However,  as  per Census  2011,  there  are  12,44,402  Persons  with  Disabilities  in  the  Odisha  State.   Under  the Scholarship Schemes for Students with Disabilities, students with benchmark disability (disability of 40% or more) are eligible for scholarship. Number of Students with Disabilities benefited in the State of Odisha during last eight years is at Annexure. District-wise data is not being maintained.

- (b)  and  (c):  The  number  of  Students  with  disabilities  getting  scholarship  has  increased  from  16 during 2014-15 to 2,699 during 2021-22 in Odisha. With a view to ensure better coverage of these schemes, the Department has taken the following measures:-
- (i)  Until  2017-18,  these  six  scholarship  schemes,  viz,  Pre-matric,  Post-matric,  Top  Class Education, National Fellowship, National Overseas and Free Coaching were implemented as stand alone  schemes  having  separate  budgets.  From  1st   April,  2018,  all  the  six  scholarship  schemes have been merged into an Umbrella Scheme titled 'Scholarship for Students with Disabilities' and  have  been  registered  on  PFMS  portal  with  a  unique  code  for  direct  benefit  transfer.  The merger/unification of the schemes with effect from 2018-19 has been done to remove the demandsupply imbalance caused by budget allocation and streamline the implementation process. In the umbrella scheme, if there is surplus fund available in one segment that can be utilized in the other segment.
- (ii)  The Department issues advertisements in leading Newspapers across the country to increase awareness of these schemes amongst students and other stakeholders. All the other types of media are also tapped for spreading awareness.
- (iii)  Under  the  revised  scheme  implemented  with  effect  from  01.04.2018,  the  amount  of  PreMatric  &  Post-Matric  Scholarship  has  increased.  Further,  the  number  of  slots  in  Pre-Matric scholarship has increased from 20,000 to 25,000 and in case of Top Class Education Scholarship scheme  from  160  to  300.  The  number  of  slots  allocated  to  Odisha  State  under  Scholarship Schemes are as below:
- (iv) Under National Overseas Scholarship, the applications can be submitted throughout the year.
- (d) The other steps taken by the Government for comprehensive development of differently abled citizens:-
1. The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act was passed in 2016, which came into force from 19.04.2017.   This increased  the  number  of  disabilities  from  7  to  21.  The  Act  has  increased reservation in Government jobs from 3% to 4% and, in Government and Government aided higher educational institutions from 3% to 5%.
2.  The  Department  of  Empowerment  of  Persons  with  Disabilities  has  nine  National  Institutes which provide rehabilitation services, contribute to capacity building and promote research in the field of rehabilitation.  Besides,  there  are  21  Composite  Regional  Centres  which  provide comprehensive rehabilitation services to persons with disabilities.
3. Centres for Disability Sports at Gwalior : With the main objective of providing persons with disabilities  the  training  facilities  at  par  with  the  latest  in  the  world  so  as  to  enable  them  to

| Scheme              |   Slots |
|---------------------|---------|
| Pre-Matric          |     928 |
| Post-Matric         |     789 |
| Top Class Education |      14 |

effectively  compete  and  win  medals  in  Paralympics,  Deaflympics,  Special  Olympics  and  other international events for sports persons with disabilities.

4.   The  Government  is  also  implementing  various  schemes  for  the  welfare  of  Persons  with Disabilities (PwDs). Details of some of the major schemes are as under:
2. (I) Deendayal  Disabled  Rehabilitation  Scheme  (DDRS) :  Under  this  Central  Sector  Scheme financial assistance is  provided to Non-government Organizations (NGOs) and District Disability Rehabilitation Centre (DDRCs) for the welfare of Persons with Disabilities PwDs).
3. (II) Assistance  to  Disabled  Persons  for   Purchase/Fitting  of  Aids  and  Appliances  (ADIP) Scheme :  Under this Scheme, funds are released to various Implementing Agencies to assist the eligible persons with disabilities (Divyangjan) in procuring durable, sophisticated and scientifically manufactured, modern, standard aids and appliances that can promote their physical, social and psychological rehabilitation by reducing the effects of disabilities and enhancing their economic potential.
4. (III) Scheme for the Implementation of Right of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 (SIPDA): Under  the  umbrella  Scheme,  financial  assistance  is  provided  for  undertaking  various  activities outlined in the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act, 2016. The major components of the Scheme are as follows:
5. (i) Accessible  India  Campaign  (AIC) :  The  Rights  of  Persons  with  Disabilities  (RPwD)  Act, 2016 mandates accessibility under Section 40 to 46 of the Act. With a view to creating barrier free environment for independent and safe living of PwDs, Government launched the Accessible India Campaign (AIC) on 3rd December, 2015. AIC is being implemented under 3 pillars of built up environment, transportation system and Information and Communication Technology (ICT).
6. (ii) National  Action  Plan  for  Skill  Development  of  Persons  with  Disabilities  (PwDs) :  The Government  launched  the  National  Action  Plan  (NAP)  for  Skill  Development  of  Persons  with Disabilities  (PwDs)  in  March,  2015  for  skilling  of  PwDs  through  a  network  of  empanelled training partners (ETPs) comprising Government organizations and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs).
7. (iii) Creation  of  barrier  free  environment  for  Persons  with  Disabilities :  Under  this  scheme funds are provided to the States/UTs for creation of barrier free environment by mainly providing lifts, ramps accessible toilets, tactile flooring and accessible websites.
8. (iv) Unique  Disability  Identification  (UDID)  Project :  Under  this  project,  the  Government  is creating a national data base for Persons with Disabilities (PwDs)  and issuing unique identification cards to them.

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ANNEXURE

Annexure referred to in Part (a)  of the reply of Lok Sabha Unstarred Question. No. 287 for answer on 19.07.2022 regarding 'Scholarship Scheme for Differently Abled Students' raised by Shri Basanta Kumar Panda, Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha.

Number of Students with benchmark Disability (Divyangjan) benefited during the last eight years in State of Odisha:

| Year   | Beneficiaries   | Amount (₹)   |
|--------|-----------------|--------------|
| 16     | 73,03,268       | 2014-15      |
| 1,911  | 1,92,80,156     | 2015-16      |
| 629    | 1,16,46,315     | 2016-17      |
| 2,307  | 3,80,29,005     | 2017-18      |
| 2,076  | 4,88,28,020     | 2018-19      |
| 3,341  | 7,44,91,321     | 2019-20      |
| 1,495  | 3,00,93,605     | 2020-21      |
| 2,699  | 5,40,00,082     | 2021-22      |
| 14,474 | 28,36,71,772    | Total        |