Lok Sabha Question No. 2540 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-19
Subject: Mentally Retarded and Disabled Children
Ministry: SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT
Asked by: Mitesh Rameshbhai (Bakabhai) Patel, Shardaben Anilbhai Patel

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

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 2540

TO BE ANSWERED ON 19.12.2023

## MENTALLY RETARDED AND DISABLED CHILDREN

## 2540. SHRI MITESH RAMESHBHAI PATEL(BAKABHAI): SHRIMATI SHARDABEN ANILBHAI PATEL:

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

- (a) whether the Government has any information about mentally retarded and disabled children in the country and if so, the details thereof during the last three years, year and State-wise;
- (b) whether the Government has conducted any research/study to find out the causes/reasons for such disability in the country, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (c) whether the Government has taken/proposes to take any steps for the future of such children whose  lives  are  very  challenging  because  of  being  deprived  of  many  facilities  including education; and
- (d)  if  so,  the  details  thereof  along  with  the  facilities  being  provided  to  these  children  by  the Government?

## ANSWER

Minister of State for Social Justice & Empowerment

## ( SUSHRI PRATIMA BHOUMIK)

- (a) Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment relies upon census data for number of persons with  disabilities  in  the  country.  As  per  Census  2011,  there  are  5,95,231  children  with  mental retardation and 78,64,636 children with disability in the age group of 0-19 years.
- (b) No, Sir. No such study has been carried out.
- (c) and (d) Relief to the disabled is primarily a State subject by virtue of entry 9 of the State list of the Constitution of India. The Central Government supplements the efforts of the States for the  welfare  of  persons  with  disabilities  through  various  schemes.  The  Central  Government enacted the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act,  2016 which mandates every child with benchmark disability between the age of six to eighteen years shall have the right to free education in a neighborhood school, or in a special school, of his choice. The Act mandates the appropriate  Government  and  local  authorities  to  ensure  that  every  child  with  benchmark disability  has  access  to  free  education  in  an  appropriate  environment  till  he  attains  the  age  of eighteen years.

In pursuance of the RPwD Act, 2016, there are various provisions available for welfare and  improvement  of  lives  of  the  persons  with  disabilities.  Under  these  provisions,  various schemes  such  as  Scheme  of  Assistance  to  Disabled  Persons  for  Purchase/Fitting  of  Aids  and Appliances (ADIP Scheme), scholarship for education, skill development etc. are implemented. Section 34 of the Act provides for 4 % reservation in the government employment to the persons with  benchmark  disabilities.    Further,  Section  32  of  the  Act  provides  5%  reservation  in government  or  government  aided  higher  educational  institutions  for  persons  with  benchmark disabilities.

The  Centrally  Sponsored  Scheme of Samagra Shiksha lauched in 2018-19, has dedicated Inclusive Education component for the education of Children with Special Needs (IE for CwSN) covering all CwSN with one or more disabilities as mentioned in the schedule of disabilities of RPwD Act, 2016 including children with neuro-disorders like cerebral palsy, autism spectrum disorder and disability caused due to chronic neurological conditions. It aims to look at education of CwSN in a continuum from Pre-Primary to Class XII studying in Government, Governmentaided and local body schools.

Through  this  component,  CwSN  are  provided  support  via   specific  student  oriented interventions  such  as  identification  and  assessment  camps,  provision  o  f  aids,  appliances  and assistive  devices,  transportation,  scribe  and  escort  allowance  support,  Braille  books  and  large print  books  for  children  with  visual  impairment,  stipend  for  girls  with  special  needs  and teaching-learning  materials  etc.  in  order  to  appropriately  address  their  unique  educational requirements in general schools.

Capacity building of general teachers and special educators on meeting learning needs to provide quality  education  to  children  with  disabilities  and  improve  their  learning  outcomes,  are  also covered. Further, individualized support is also provided through therapeutic interventions at the block level. There is also provision for Home Based Education for children with severe multiple disabilities etc. in order to appropriately address the unique educational requirements of CWSN in inclusive schools.

According  to  Central  Board  of  Secondary  Education's  (CBSE)  affiliation  bye-laws  and being sensitive to the needs of disabled students, CBSE provides several exemptions/concessions to CWSN as defined in RPwD Act, 2016 such as issuing authority of Medical Certificate, facility of Scribe and compensatory time, appointment of Scribe and related instructions, fee and special exemptions  for  class  X  like  exemption  from  third  language,  flexibility  in  choosing  subjects, alternate  questions/Separate  Question  and  special  exemptions  for  class  XII  like  flexibility  in choosing subjects, separate question paper and questions in lieu of practical component.

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