Financial Assistance To Visually Challenged Teachers
State: Central
Ministry: Ministry of Education
Department: University Grants Commission
Category: Education & Learning, Banking,Financial Services and Insurance, Social welfare & Empowerment
Beneficiary Type: Individual

Financial assistance scheme providing up to ₹36,000 annually to visually challenged permanent college teachers for reader assistance, Braille books, and learning aids. Implemented by University Grants Commission to support teaching, research, and academic independence.

Benefits:
The scheme provides the following benefits to visually challenged permanent teachers:
**1. Financial Support**
An allowance of **Rs. 36,000/- per annum** is provided to meet expenses related to teaching, learning and research.
**2. Reader Support**
Provision of funds for payment to a Reader, enabling the teacher to carry out academic duties effectively.
**3. Access to Learning Materials** Funds can be used for purchase of:

  - Braille Books/Material
  - Recorded Materials
  - Any other related/required material or equipment for research, teaching and learning

**4. Self-Dependence**
The scheme enables visually challenged teachers to achieve self-dependence in their teaching and research activities.
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Eligibility:
1. The applicant must be a permanent teacher in a college. Temporary, contractual, or ad-hoc teachers are not covered under the scheme.
2. The scheme covers teachers with the following nature of blindness:

  - Fully Blind
  - Low Vision

A certificate from a Government Hospital is mandatory to establish the nature of visual impairment.
3. The college where the teacher is employed must be recognized under:

  - Section 2(f) of the UGC Act
  - Section 12(B) of the UGC Act

4. The eligible teacher&amp;#39;s details must be included in the consolidated list of visually challenged teachers submitted by the college to the UGC Regional Office/NRCB along with the Twelfth Plan General Development Grant proposal.
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Application Process:
[Offline]
Prepare the Proposal: The College prepares the proposal in the prescribed proforma format only, including the consolidated list of all visually challenged teachers in the Institute.
Submit the Proposal: The proposal may be sent directly to the respective Regional Offices/NRCB of the UGC along with the proposal for the Twelfth Plan General Development Grant.
Approval by UGC: The UGC would analyze and approve the proposal at its own level.
Release of First Installment: Once the proposal is approved, the first installment of the admissible grant will be released by the UGC with the letter of approval.
Release of Subsequent Installments: Subsequent installments would be paid on receipt of:
Utilization Certificate of the previous grant
Statement of Expenditure incurred in the previous year
Details pertaining to visually challenged teachers

Documents Required:
1. Disability Certificate
A certificate from a Government Hospital to establish the nature of blindness:
Fully Blind, OR
Low Vision
2. Reader's Receipt
A receipt from the Reader with revenue stamp indicating the honorarium paid to the Reader.
3. Original Bills
Original bills to be submitted by the teacher to the college towards actual expenditure incurred.