Lok Sabha Question No. 1399 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-07-26
Subject: Special Schemes for Differently Abled Children
Ministry: SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT
Asked by: RAJESHBHAI NARANBHAI CHUDASAMA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## DEPARTMENT OF EMPOWERMENT OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES (DIVYANGJAN) MINISTRY OF SOCIAL JUSTICE & EMPOWERMENT

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1399 TO BE ANSWERED ON 26.07.2016

## Special Schemes for Differently Abled Children

## 1399. SHRI RAJESHBHAI CHUDASAMA;

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

- (a) whether the Ministry has set up any coordination mechanism with other Ministries/ Departments and the State Governments to protect the interest of the differently abled children and if s0, the details thereof;
- whether the  Ministry has any plans to take   initiative to formulate   special schemes for children suffering from disability and if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) the details of the schemes in the country for making barrier free environment for the disabled?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT

## (SHRI KRISHANPAL GURJAR)

- (a) As   per the provisions of the Persons with Disabilities Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act; 1995, the Central Government has constituted the Central Coordination Committee under the Chairmanship of Hon'ble Minister, Social Justice and Empowerment; which is  responsible for reviewing and coordinating activities with other  Ministries/ Departments and and Non-Governmental  organization  dealing with matters   relating to persons with disabilities including children with disabilities The Central Coordinating Committee comprises of Secretary-in-charge of the various Ministries/ Departments, four members nominated by the Central Government by rotation to represent the States and UTs, Chief Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities etc. as members.
- (b) As per the provision of the Persons with Disabilities   (Equal Opportunities, Protection of  Rights and Full Participation) Act  1995, the State Governments are mandated to develop schemes / programmes for education, rehabilitation, social security, health care of Persons with disabilities including children with disabilities. As welfare of persons with disabilities is primarily a State subject, the Central

Government   supplements the efforts of the State Governments   through various Central Schemes / Programmes and National Institutes. The major schemes for rehabilitation of persons with disabilities are Deendayal   Disabled Rehabilitation Scheme, Scheme of Assistance to Disabled Persons for Purchase/ Fitting of Aids Appliances, Scheme for Implementation of PwD Act, National Fellowship Scheme Seven National Institutes and two Central  Public Sector Undertakings  namely , Artificial Limbs Manufacturing Corporation of India and National   Handicapped Finance   Development Corporation are providing various   rehabilitative services to persons with disabilities.

(c) The Central Government provides grant-in-aid under Scheme of Assistance to Disabled for Purchase/ Fitting of Aids Appliances, Scheme of Implementation for Persons with Disabilities (SIPDA) to State Governments and various bodies set up by the Central and State Government, including autonomous bodies and Universities, to support activities pursuant to implementation of the provisions of the Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act; 1995 particularly relating to rehabilitation and provision of barrier free access. Under the Scheme assistance to State Governments and Institutions run by the Central/ State Government is given for the following activities:-

- (i) To provide barrier free environment in important government buildings (State Secretariat, other important State level offices, Collectorates, State University Buildings / Campuses, Medical Colleges and Main Hospitals at Divisional Headquarters, other important Government   buildings) , for PwDs a8 per Section 46 of the PwD Act This would include provision for ramps, rails, lifts, adaptation of toilets for wheelchair users, brail signages and auditory signals, tactile flooring, etc
- (iii) To set up early intervention centres
- (ii) To make Government websites at the State and District levels accessible to PwDs, as per guidelines for Indian Government Websites issued by the Department of Administrative Reforms & Public Grievances (D/0 AR&PG), Government of India.
- (iv) One time assistance to construct  building for the Office of State Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities.

Further, Ministry has launched the Accessibility India Campaign to promote barrier environment for persons with disabilities.