Lok Sabha Question No. 2424 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-08-04
Subject: Assistance to Differently Abled for Higher Education
Ministry: SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT
Asked by: MANSHANKAR NINAMA, PONNUSAMY VENUGOPAL

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

DEPARTMENT OF EMPOWERMENT OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES

MINISTRY OF SOCIAL JUSTICE & EMPOWERMENT

LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2424

##### 1 TO BE ANSWERED ON 04.08.2015

Assistance to Differently Abled for Higher Education

2424. SHRI MANSHANKAR NINAMA: Dr. P. VENUGOPAL

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

| (a) whether any special assistance is provided to differently abled persons for higher education and preparation for civil services examination and is so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;                          |
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| (b)  whether the Government is considering to have a discussion with top examination bodies to ensure a set of guidelines that would achieve the inclusion and participation of persons with disabilities and if so, the details thereof; |
| (c)  whether the Government is considering to appoint the IAS  topper of the current year as brand ambassador for disability; and                                                                                                         |
| (d)  if so, the details thereof?                                                                                                                                                                                                          |

ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT

(SHRI KRISHANPAL GURJAR)

| (a) The Ministry implements the following scholarship/fellowship schemes for students with disabilities for pursuing higher education:-  1.  Rajiv Gandhi National Fellowship for Students with Disabilities for pursuing M.Phil/Ph.D. courses in any University recognized by University Grants Commission (UGC).  2.   Scholarship Scheme from Trust Fund to provide financial assistance to pursue Graduate/post graduate level technical and professional courses from a recognized institution.  3.  Scholarship Scheme from National Fund to provide financial assistance to pursue post-matric academic courses up to Ph.D. level including Diploma level technical and professional courses.  …2/-  -2-  4.  Scholarship for Top Class Education for Students with Disabilities for pursuing Post Graduate Degree or Diploma in some notified Institutes of excellence.  5.  **National Overseas Scholarship for Students with Disabilities**  : at the level of Masters’ Degree and Ph.D. in any foreign country.   |
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| (b)  The Ministry had issued the guidelines for conducting written examination for persons with disabilities on 26.02.2013. The Ministry has constituted a Committee under the Chairmanship of Secretary, Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities comprising of representatives from Union Public Service Commission, University Grant Commission, Central Board of Secondary Education, etc to look into the issues regarding implementation of these guidelines.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            |
| (c) & (d)   It is envisaged  to appoint the IAS topper of the current year who is a person with disability as brand ambassador of the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities for various activities such as  awareness generation programme, vocational training etc.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        |
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GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

DEPARTMENT OF EMPOWERMENT OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES

MINISTRY OF SOCIAL JUSTICE & EMPOWERMENT

LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.95

##### 2 TO BE ANSWERED ON 21.07.2015

Universal Identity Card for Differently abled

95. SHRI LALUBHAI BABUBHAI PATEL:  SHRI HARI MANJHI:

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

| (a)    whether the Government has any proposal to issue a web based universal Identity Card ( ID) for the    differently abled and if so, the details and the present status thereof;   |
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| (b)   whether the said card will contain all the relevant information of the concerned person;                                                                                          |
| (c)   the manner in which the said scheme would be implemented across the country; and                                                                                                  |
| (d)  the time by which it is likely to be introduced/launched ?                                                                                                                         |

ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT

(SHRI KRISHANPAL GURJAR)

| (a)  Yes Sir. There is a proposal to implement a project, namely ‘Universal ID for Persons with Disabilities’ with a view to create a National database for persons with disabilities and to issue Universal Disability Identity Card to every person with disability. The project will encourage transparency, efficiency and ease of delivering the Government benefits to the persons with disabilities and it will also ensure homogeneity and uniformity and streamlines the tracking of physical and financial progress of benefit delivery at all level of hierarchy of implementation from village level, block level, district level, state level and National level based on Census code of data delivery.  For this purpose the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities has already prepared a detailed project report for grant of Universal IDs to person with disabilities through a centrally web-based programme. An agency has been selected for application development.   |
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| (b)    The Universal Identity Card for persons with disabilities will contain personal details/identity details (including Aadhar), bank details (including Jan Dhan Yojana), disability details, disability certificate (manually issued in past) details, Education details, Employment details, Scheme related details, UDID number , UDID dispatch details, income status, BPL Card No. and Voter ID of Person/parents/guardian.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        |
| (c)    Further action on the scheme is envisaged to be taken in consultation with the State Governments.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    |
| (d)   It is envisaged to launch the scheme in this year.  *****                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             |