Lok Sabha Question No. 3578 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-21
Subject: Prevalence of Autism in the Country
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Shri Naveen Jindal

## GOVERNMENTOFINDIA MINISTRY OFHEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENTOFHEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3578 TO BE ANSWERED ON 21 ST MARCH, 2025

## PREVALENCE OF AUTISM IN THE COUNTRY

## 3578. SHRI NAVEEN JINDAL:

Will the Minister of HEALTHANDFAMILYWELFARE be pleased to state:

- (a) the latest figures regarding prevalence of autism in the country in absolute and percentage terms, State/UT-wise;
- (b) the details of existing policy of the Government with regard to welfare and rehabilitation of the autistic population in the country;
- (c) the details of the various schemes and programmes being run by the Government for the welfare and rehabilitation of the autistic population in the country;
- (d) the physical targets and the allocation of funds made for the various schemes and programmes of the Government for welfare and rehabilitation of the autistic population during each of the last five years, year-wise, State/UT-wise; and
- (e) the details of actual achievements and expenditure thereon during the last five years, State/UT-wise?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE (SH. PRATAPRAO JADHAV)

(a) to (e) As per the National Mental Health Survey, 2016 conducted by the Government through National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), Bangalore in 12 States of the country, the prevalence of Autism Spectrum Disorder in the age group of 13 -17 years was 1.6%.

Under Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK) Mobile Health Teams (MHT) conduct health screening of children from birth to 18 years for the four D's: Defects at birth, Diseases, Deficiencies, and Development delays at Anganwadi and Schools. Autism is one of the health conditions included under Developmental Delays.

Children identified are provided with early intervention services and follow-up care at District Early Intervention Centers (DEIC). DEICs offer a multitude of services by providing developmentally supportive care at the district level for follow-up management of referred and treated cases.

As per information provided by National Trust for the welfare of Persons with Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Mental Retardation (Intellectual Disability) and Multiple Disabilities, various schemes and programmes are implemented for the welfare and rehabilitation of the person with disabilities covered under the National Trust Act, including Autism in the country. Under the National Trust Act, there is a provision for appointment of Legal Guardians for these persons with disabilities who need it, through Local Level Committee (LLC) constituted at District Level under Chairmanship of District Magistrate/ District Collector. The National Trust is also implementing schemes namelyDisha (Early Intervention and School Readiness) scheme, Vikaas (Day Care) scheme, Disha-cum-Vikaas (Day Care) scheme, Samarth (Respite Care) scheme, Gharaunda (Group Home for Adults) scheme, Samarth-cum-Gharaunda (Residential) scheme and Niramaya- Health Insurance scheme. Physical targets and the allocation of funds made by National Trust for various schemes and programmes for welfare and rehabilitation of the divyangjan covered under the National Trust Act during last five years, year-wise and State/UT-wise is at Annexure-A.

The Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD) runs 26 Cross Disability Early Intervention Centers (CDEIC) under National Institutes/Composite Regional Centers (CRC) which also cater to ASD.

The DEPwD also implements the Scheme of 'Assistance to Persons with Disabilities for Purchase/Fitting of Aids and Appliances (ADIP)' under which funds are released to various Implementing Agencies to assist the eligible persons with disabilities including persons with Autism Spectrum Disorder 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 throughout the country. The Department provides various kind of assistive devices as per the biomechanical deficiency of the beneficiary like Wheelchair, Teaching and Learning Material kits etc to support the rehabilitation of the person with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

The Ministry of Education under Centrally Sponsored Scheme of Samagra Shiksha has dedicated inclusive education component for the education of Children with Special Needs (CwSN) with one or more disabilities. Special Educator are appointed in Schools as per the minimum requirements laid down by Rehabilitation Council of India. Workshops and Training programs are organized for teachers to sensitize them towards the needs of diverse learners. Teachers are trained to adopt inclusive teaching methods and create individualized education plans (IEPs) for students with special needs. Various examination accommodations are provided for students with disabilities, such as extra time, use of a scribe or option to use computer. The Board provides relaxations in all the benchmark disabilities in the Board examinations (classes X and XII) (RPWD Act-2016).

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## Annexure-A

## Physical targets and the allocation of funds, year-wise and State/UT-wise

| Sl. No.   | State             | 2019-20               | 2019-20               | 2020-21               | 2020-21               | 2021-22               | 2021-22               | 2022-23               | 2022-23               | 2023-24               | 2023-24               |
|-----------|-------------------|-----------------------|-----------------------|-----------------------|-----------------------|-----------------------|-----------------------|-----------------------|-----------------------|-----------------------|-----------------------|
| Sl. No.   | State             | No. of Beneficiar ies | Amount (in Rs. Crore) | No. of Beneficiar ies | Amount (in Rs. Crore) | No. of Beneficiar ies | Amount (in Rs. Crore) | No. of Beneficiar ies | Amount (in Rs. Crore) | No. of Beneficiar ies | Amount (in Rs. Crore) |
| 1         | Andman & Nicobar  | 0                     | 0                     | 0                     | 0                     | 2                     | 0                     | 2                     | 0                     | 17                    | 0                     |
| 2         | Andhra Pradesh    | 7492                  | 1.46                  | 8166                  | 1.99                  | 7228                  | 1.88                  | 7314                  | 1.90                  | 750                   | 1.82                  |
| 3         | Arunachal Pradesh | 0                     | 0.00                  | 0                     | 0.00                  | 0                     | 0.00                  | 0                     | 0.00                  | 0                     | 0.00                  |
| 4         | Assam             | 65                    | 0.10                  | 73                    | 0.18                  | 114                   | 0.14                  | 165                   | 0.16                  | 122                   | 0.27                  |
| 5         | Bihar             | 278                   | 0.36                  | 154                   | 0.45                  | 341                   | 0.86                  | 602                   | 0.84                  | 469                   | 0.88                  |
| 6         | Chandigarh        | 38                    | 0.01                  | 44                    | 0.03                  | 97                    | 0.02                  | 107                   | 0.06                  | 118                   | 0.05                  |
| 7         | Chattisgarh       | 43                    | -0.28                 | 45                    | 0.01                  | 128                   | 0.32                  | 99                    | 0.59                  | 124                   | 0.65                  |
| 8         | Daman & Diu       | 1                     | 0.00                  | 1                     | 0.00                  | 8                     | 0.00                  | 1                     | 0.00                  | 2                     | 0.00                  |
| 9         | Delhi             | 744                   | 0.31                  | 598                   | 0.35                  | 687                   | 0.45                  | 677                   | 0.55                  | 572                   | 0.42                  |
| 10        | Goa               | 7                     | 0.00                  | 1                     | 0.00                  | 36                    | 0.00                  | 43                    | 0.00                  | 80                    | 0.00                  |
| 11        | Gujarat           | 5602                  | 1.60                  | 6679                  | 1.52                  | 10653                 | 1.91                  | 20159                 | 3.09                  | 20629                 | 3.15                  |
| 12        | Haryana           | 329                   | 0.24                  | 435                   | 0.34                  | 356                   | 0.46                  | 507                   | 0.38                  | 332                   | 0.38                  |
| 13        | Himachal Pradesh  | 99                    | 0.10                  | 189                   | 0.18                  | 185                   | 0.19                  | 201                   | 0.17                  | 256                   | 0.15                  |
| 14        | Jammu & Kashmir   | 0                     | 0.00                  | 0                     | 0.00                  | 62                    | 0.06                  | 231                   | 0.22                  | 168                   | 0.30                  |
| 15        | Jharkhand         | 194                   | 0.02                  | 158                   | 0.03                  | 242                   | 0.11                  | 261                   | 0.09                  | 185                   | 0.04                  |
| 16        | Karnataka         | 2143                  | 0.98                  | 1940                  | 0.78                  | 2217                  | 0.98                  | 2920                  | 1.96                  | 6535                  | 1.73                  |
| 17        | Kerala            | 54482                 | 3.16                  | 58705                 | 2.70                  | 78263                 | 3.86                  | 82722                 | 6.43                  | 45263                 | 3.46                  |
| 18        | Ladakh            | 0                     | 0.00                  | 0                     | 0.00                  | 0                     | 0.00                  | 0                     | 0.00                  | 0                     | 0.00                  |
| 19        | Lakshadweep       | 2                     | 0.00                  | 2                     | 0.00                  | 6                     | 0.00                  | 6                     | 0.00                  | 5                     | 0.00                  |
| 20        | Madhya Pradesh    | 2556                  | 2.79                  | 86895                 | 4.40                  | 6943                  | 5.00                  | 58025                 | 7.09                  | 3415                  | 5.41                  |
| 21        | Maharashtra       | 4234                  | 1.50                  | 3925                  | 1.08                  | 3902                  | 1.21                  | 4840                  | 2.03                  | 5924                  | 2.31                  |
| 22        | Manipur           | 15                    | 0.01                  | 36                    | 0.08                  | 55                    | 0.18                  | 129                   | 0.22                  | 107                   | 0.21                  |

| 23   | Meghalaya     | 21   |   0.03 | 81   |   0.10 | 24   |   0.05 | 257   |   0.16 | 105   |   0.10 |
|------|---------------|------|--------|------|--------|------|--------|-------|--------|-------|--------|
| 24   | Mizoram       | 45   |   0    | 38   |   0    | 0    |   0    | 0     |   0    | 0     |   0    |
| 25   | Nagaland      | 1    |   0    | 0    |   0    | 13   |   0    | 0     |   0    | 2     |   0    |
| 26   | Odisha        | 731  |   1.17 | 1799 |   2.18 | 2752 |   2.58 | 2988  |   3.08 | 1282  |   2.78 |
| 27   | Punjab        | 113  |   0.25 | 105  |   0.26 | 254  |   0.25 | 241   |   0.23 | 305   |   0.12 |
| 28   | Puducherry    | 42   |   0    | 80   |   0.23 | 198  |   0.23 | 296   |   0.22 | 232   |   0.23 |
| 29   | Rajasthan     | 225  |   0.15 | 220  |   0.21 | 236  |   0.18 | 271   |   0.33 | 196   |   0.36 |
| 30   | Sikkim        | 0    |   0    | 0    |   0    | 2    |   0    | 0     |   0    | 25    |   0    |
| 31   | Tamil Nadu    | 2556 |   1.77 | 1669 |   1.53 | 2306 |   1.58 | 3233  |   3.42 | 3334  |   3.41 |
| 32   | Telangana     | 843  |   0.53 | 494  |   0.58 | 696  |   0.71 | 642   |   0.83 | 421   |   0.71 |
| 33   | Tripura       | 23   |   0.01 | 35   |   0.01 | 153  |   0.01 | 265   |   0.01 | 353   |   0.01 |
| 34   | Uttar Pradesh | 775  |   2.3  | 924  |   3.48 | 1274 |   4.14 | 3459  |   4.69 | 1695  |   4.34 |
| 35   | Uttarakhand   | 43   |   0.18 | 91   |   0.16 | 58   |   0.21 | 113   |   0.19 | 166   |   0.18 |
| 36   | West Bengal   | 999  |   1.57 | 2565 |   1.66 | 4007 |   1.62 | 6687  |   2.01 | 2928  |   2.3  |
|      | Total         |      |  20.3  |      |  24.51 |      |  29.2  |       |  40.96 |       |  35.77 |