Lok Sabha Question No. 115 (STARRED), answered on 2021-02-09
Subject: Policy for Specially Abled during Covid-19 Lockdown
Ministry: SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT
Asked by: Talari Rangaiah

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

## LOK SABHA

STARRED QUESTION NO. *115 TO BE ANSWERED ON 09.02.2021

for Specially Abled during Covid-19 Lockdown Policy

## *115. SHRI TALARI RANGAIAH:

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

(a) the efforts made by the Government to solve the issues of persons with disabilities who faced serious difficulties in employment opportunities, inadequate access to healthcare services, lack of accessibility in the quarantine centres etc. during Covid-19 lockdown;

(b) whether the Government has framed any policy mainly for the specially-abled individuals their special needs into consideration this corona virus pandemic; and taking during

(c) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT

(DR: THAAWAR CHAND GEHLOT)

(a) to (c) A statement is laid on the Table of the House:

Statement referred to in reply to part (a) to (c) of the Lok Sabha Starred Question No. 115 raised by Shri Talari Rangaiah, regarding *Policy for Specially Abled during Covid-19 Lockdown for answer on 09.02.2021.

(a) The Central Government has enacted the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act; 2016 which came into force on 19.04.2017. Section 8 of the said Act guarantees equal protection and safety of persons with disabilities in situations of risk, armed conflict; humanitarian emergencies and natural disasters   The Act inter-alia provides for not less than 4% reservation for persons with benchmark disabilities  (i.e. disability of  40% or more) in   Government   employment, accessibility in  built-up infrastructure, transportation and ICT ecosystem. priority in treatment and access to healthcare services for persons with disabilities These measures were also applicable the COVID-19 lockdown. under the RPwD Act, 2016, the Ministry notified the list of 3566 posts suitable for various categories of persons with benchmark disabilities on 04.01.2021, during

Ministry of Health and Family Welfare issued a guidance note on 14.04.2020 to all States/UTs for addressing health concerns of all citizens ineluding persons with disabilities and enabling them to avail uninterrupted emergency health care services. On 24.04.2020, all the States/UTs were requested by the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment to ensure basic accessibility features in the centres for COVID-19 testing & quarantine facilities as well as for treatment at hospitals & health centres.

The Ministry of Rural  Development released Rs: 80 crore to the States/UTs under Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojna (PMGK Y) for payment of ex-gratia of Rs. 1000/- in two installments (Rs. 500 each) to 8 Iakh  existing beneficiaries of' Indira Gandhi National   Disability  Pension Scheme (IGNDPS).

of Personnel and   Training time exempting employees with disabilities from attending office:

the Employees State   Insurance   Corporation(ESIC) enhanced unemployment benefit from 25% to 50% of average daily earning and relaxed the eligibility conditions for insured persons including persons with disabilities under Atal Beemit Vyakti Kalyan Yojana for the period 24.03.2020 t0 31.12.2020.

On 26.03.2020, the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment issued 'Comprehensive Disability Inclusive Guidelines for protection and safety of persons with disabilities (Divyangjan) during COVID 19' to all States/UTs. These guidelines provide measures to be adopted by various States/District authorities to give focused attention to protection and safety of persons with disabilities COVID 19. for PwDs; priority in treatment specially in respect of children and women with disabilities  on-line counseling mechanism, 24X7 Helpline Number at State Level   exclusively for   Divyangjan with facilities of sign  language   interpretation and video calling;   availability of information relating to services and precautions during COVID 19 in accessible format; and issuance of passes to caregivers of persons with disabilities   during lockdown on priority. These   guidelines mandate the State Persons with Disabilities to act as the State Nodal   authority and the District Nodal   authority respectively. to resolve disability specifie issues of Persons with Disabilities. This Ministry also set a dedicated 24x7 toll free Mental Health Rehabilitation helpline service *KIRAN'(18005990019)on September, 2020 to address mental health concerns of persons with disabilities during COVID-19 during