Lok Sabha Question No. 2045 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-11
Subject: Financial assistance scheme for Divyangjans
Ministry: SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT
Asked by: Shri Dulu Mahato, Ms Kangna Ranaut

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

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

## LOK SABHA

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE & EMPOWERMENT

(SHRI B. L. VERMA)

(a) The  Government  enacted  Rights  of  Persons  with  Disabilities  (RPwD)  Act,  2016  which came into force on 19.04.2017. The no. of disabilities has been increased from 7 to 21. The said Act provides rights and entitlements to PwDs, which, inter-alia, include right to equality, nondiscrimination, protection from cruelty, exploitation, right to live with family and community, access  to  justice,  accessibility  in  voting,  legal  capacity,  legal  guardianship,  health,  education, employment,  skill  development,  arts,  sports,  recreation,  culture  and  participation  in  decision making process.

The  Government  has  taken  several  measures  to  ensure  that  persons  with  disabilities  can easily access financial assistance schemes under its initiatives. These include:-

## UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 2045

TO BE ANSWERED ON 11.03.2025

## FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE SCHEME FOR DIVYANGJANS

2045. Shri Dulu Mahato: Ms Kangna Ranaut:

Will the Minister of SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT be pleased to state :-

(a)   the  measures  taken  to  ensure  that  persons  with  disabilities  can  easily  access  financial assistance scheme under the Government initiatives;

(b)  the  steps  taken  by  the  Government  to  ensure  long-term  employability  of  persons  with disabilities apart from job fairs;

(c) whether there is any plan to expand the scope of subsidized financial assistance programmes for persons with disability in rural areas of Jharkhand; and

(d) if so, the details thereof?

-  Simplified and Accessible Application Process - Online options have been made userfriendly and accessible.
-  Dedicated  Assistance  Centers  -  Special  help  desks  and  facilitation  centers  have  been established to assist persons with disabilities.
-  Accessible Infrastructure - Government offices and financial service centers are equipped with ramps, elevators, and other facilities to ensure ease of access.
-  Digital Accessibility - Websites and mobile applications have been made screen-reader friendly and compatible with assistive technologies.
-  Awareness  Campaigns  -  Outreach  programs  are  conducted  to  inform  persons  with disabilities about available schemes and how to apply.
-  Implementation  of  Direct  Benefit  Transfer  (DBT)   initiative  aimed  at  streamlining  the delivery of subsidies and benefits directly to the bank accounts of beneficiaries.
-  Dedicated Helplines -Toll-free numbers and support teams provide assistance throughout the application process.

(b)        To ensure the long-term employability of persons with disabilities beyond job fairs, the Government has taken several steps. These include:-

-  Skill  Development  and  Vocational  Training  -The  Department  of  Empowerment  of Persons  with  Disabilities  launched  the  National  Action  Plan  for  Skill  Development  of PwDs  (NAP-SDP)  in  2015  to  enhance  skills,  employability,  and  self-reliance  among PwDs aged 15-59 years through training provided by empanelled Government and NonGovernment  Organizations  nationwide.  In  September  2023,  the  PM-DAKSH  PortalDEPwD  was  introduced  as  a  digital  platform  to  streamline  skilling  and  employment efforts. It includes two modules: Divyangjan Kaushal Vikas, offering skill training, and Divyangjan Rozgar Setu, connecting  PwDs  with  geo-tagged employment opportunities across  private  companies  in  India.  Special  training  programs  have  been  introduced  to enhance job skills and entrepreneurship opportunities.
-  Reservation in Government Jobs - Section 34 of the RPwD Act, 2016 provides for 4 % reservation  in  the  government  employment  to  the  persons  with  benchmark  (40%  or above) disabilities for ensuring greater job security. Further, Section 32 of the said Act provides 5%  reservation in government  or government  aided higher educational institutions for persons with benchmark  disabilities. The Department has issued comprehensive  guidelines  for identification  of  posts  for  persons  with  benchmark disabilities to ensure that the reservation policy is implemented effectively and uniformly. Furthermore, Section 37 of the said Act ensures 5% reservation in poverty alleviation and developmental schemes to persons with bench mark disabilities.
-  Self-Employment  Support  -  Subsidized  loans,  grants  and  training  are  provided  to encourage self-employment and entrepreneurship. The National Divyangjan Finance and Development Corporation (NDFDC) under this Department provides concessional loans to  empower  Persons  with  Disabilities  (PwDs).   Key  schemes  of  NDFDC  include Divyangjan Swavalamban Yojana (DSY) offering loans up to ₹50 lakh at concessional rate of interest for income generating activities, pursuing higher education/vocational/skill training, purchase of assistive devices and Vishesh Microfinance Yojana (VMY) providing loans up to ₹60,000 at reasonable rate of interest for providing prompt and need based finance for small/micro business and developmental activities.
-  Free  Coaching   for  students  with  disabilities  for  providing  coaching  facilities  to  make them  enable  to  appear  in  competitive  examinations  for  government  jobs  and  seek admission to various professional and technical courses.
-  Inclusive Workplace Policies - Awareness programs and guidelines are implemented to promote inclusive hiring and workplace accommodations.

(c)  &  (d)     Financial  assistance  schemes  are  reviewed  regularly  by  the  Department  across  the country including the rural areas of Jharkhand for the holistic improvements for the empowerment of persons with disabilities and to foster a more inclusive, equitable society.

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