National Resource Kit: The Andhra Chapter (Revised)
The National Resource Kit team is pleased to bring you its research on the state of laws, policies and programmes for persons with disabilities in the state of Andhra Pradesh.
This chapter was revised based on the comments and feedback received from our readers.
The Department for Women, Children, Disabled and Senior Citizens is responsible for the welfare of persons with disabilities in Andhra Pradesh. The state has an estimated population of 13,64,981[1] persons with disabilities of the total population of 84,655,533[2] people. The state has issued three notifications under General Entitlements, one notification under Women & Children with Disabilities, four notifications under Education, ten notifications under Skill Development and Employment, ten notifications under Social Security, Health &Rehabilitation and Recreation, three notifications under Accessibility and has identified and notified medical boards for disability certification.
1. General Entitlements
1.1 Persons with disabilities with 40% or more disability may apply for the benefits under the schemes implemented by government / NGOs.
1.2 Dwarf persons are included in the category of locomotor disabled.
1.3 AP Tax on Professions, Trades, Callings and Employments Act 1987 exempts persons with disabilities from payment of professional tax.
| Sr. No. | Issuing Authority | Notification No. | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Department for Women, Children, Disabled and Senior Citizens | G.O.MS.No. 27, dated: 09.08.2000 | People with at least 40% disability may apply for Govt / NGOs schemes |
| 2 | Revenue Department | G.O.MS.No. 1063 Dated: 02.08.2007 | Exemption from professional tax |
2. Women & Children with Disabilities
2.1 Girls with 80% or more disability are eligible for benefits under GCPS.[3]
| Sr. No. | Issuing Authority | Notification No. | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Department for Women, Children, Disabled and Senior Citizens | Memo No. 7861/JJ/A1/2004, Dated 11.06.2008 | Girls with 80% or more disability eligible for GCPS Annual family income not more than Rs. 1,00,000 Single child / both children girls conditions are not applicable Girls with one / two brothers also eligible |
3. Education
3.1 Post matric scholarship / fee reimbursements provided to disabled students in govt / university colleges / institutions and Category A convenor quota students in private colleges.
3.2 Exemption from 2nd and 3rd languages to students with hearing impairment at SSC level.
3.3 Concessions in evaluation, scribe, language exemption and extra time provided to students appearing for Class 7 and Class 10 public examination.
3.4 Disabled students whose annual family income does not exceed Rs. 1,00,000 are eligible to apply for scholarships / fee reimbursements.
| S.No. | Issuing Authority | Notification No. | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Department for Women, Children, Disabled and Senior Citizens | G.O.MS.No. 21 Dated: 3.07.2008 | Post matric Scholarship & fee reimbursement for govt / university colleges / institutions All eligible applicants entitled for reimbursement Fees directly reimbursed to institutions No fees to be collected during admission |
| 2 | Education (Exams) Department | G.O.Rt.No.1161 Edn. Dated:24.06.1992 | Exemption from 2nd & 3rd language for hearing impaired students at SSC level Divisions awarded based on performance in other papers |
| 3 | Education (Exams) Department | G.O.Ms.No. 33 Dated: 19.03.2001 | Concessions to students appearing for Class 7 and Class 10 exams Minimum marks required for passing is 20 Jumbling system for evaluation abolished and only trained teachers engaged Scribe provided to visually impaired students is of Class 10 Exemption from 2nd and 3rd languages and fees is applicable to all disabled students Half hour extra time during exams provided to all disabled students from classes 7th to 10th |
| 4 | Department for Women, Children, Disabled and Senior Citizens | G.O.MS.No. 9 Dated: 10.4.2008 | Scholarship for students with annual family income not exceeding Rs. 1,00,000 Books / instruments – ITI / Polytechnic students Musical instruments – Professional music students Scholarships – Students with mental disabilities & research scholars Typewriting / Short hand / Examination coaching – Professional examinations |
4. Skill Development & Employment
4.1 Reservation of 3% in all state government positions for persons with disabilities. Preference given for those with higher degree of disability.
4.2 Reservation for identified posts will be carried forward for three consecutive years for recruitment of suitable candidate. If candidate with right disability for the reserved post is not identified, the post will be filled by interchanging among the three categories. Disabled women given 33% reservation within the 3%reservation on a rotational basis between the three categories.
4.3 3% reservation for promotion of persons with disabilities applicable to all the services of the state government with cadre strength more than five. Candidates must be fully qualified and eligible under existing rules and guidelines.
4.4 Persons with disabilities are allowed age relaxation of ten years on upper age limit for recruitment to government employment and exempted from the application fee for applying to the Andhra Pradesh Public Service Commission.
4.5 The rural development scheme with standard schedule rates for persons with disabilities employed for wages in rural development provides that wage rates for persons with disabilities would be operated at 30 per cent extra over the rural standard schedule rates on items of labour component only.
4.6 Persons with disabilities are given three per cent reservation in the allotment of fair price shops.
4.7 Three per cent of the shops and stalls constructed by the municipality will be leased to persons with disabilities for a payment of Rs. 2.50 per square feet or 50 per cent of the rent being paid by the neighbouring shop considering whichever is lower without the regular channel of public auction.
4.8 Persons with visual impairment who completed SSC / higher education directly without qualifying Class 7 are eligible for posts of attender / Group 4 posts in the Andhra Pradesh Last Grade Services.
4.9 Persons with disabilities who completed graduation / post graduation directly without completing Intermediate are eligible to apply for Group 4 posts in AP Ministerial Services / other services except at the office of the Head of Department where Intermediate is prescribed as minimum qualification.
4.10 Persons with disabilities given three per cent reservation in all coaching / training facilities and programmes of welfare departments for attempting competitive examinations.
| S.No. | Issuing Authority | Notification Number | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Department for Women, Children, Disabled and Senior Citizens | G.O.MS. NO. 56 Dated: 02.12.2003 | 3% reservation in employment, preference for those with greater disability |
| 2 | Department for Women, Children, Disabled and Senior Citizens | G.O.Ms.No. 23 Dated: 26.05.2011 | Carrying forward of reservation, interchanging among categories and reservation for women with disabilities |
| 3 | Department for Women, Children, Disabled and Senior Citizens | G.O.MS.No. 42 Dated: 19.10.2011 | 3% reservation for promotion in government employment |
| 4 | Department for Women, Children, Disabled and Senior Citizens | G.O.MS. No. 22 Dated: 25.05.2011 | 10 years relaxation in age limit and exemption from application fees for applying for government jobs |
| 5 | Panchayati Raj and Rural Development Department | G.O.MS.No. 146 Dated: 24.4.2007 | Wages for persons with disabilities employed in rural development Applicable only if all persons in the group are disabled. |
| 6 | Food, Civil Supplies and consumer Affairs Department | G.O.Ms.No.99 Dated: - 22-10-1998 | 3% reservation in allotment of fair price shops |
| 7 | Municipal Administration and Urban Development Department | G.O.Ms.No. 63 M.A Dated: 14.02.1996 | 3% reservation in allotment of municipal shops and stalls |
| 8 | General Administration Department | G.O.Ms.No. 34 Dated:17-05-2003 | Eligibility of VI persons without Class 7 qualification to apply for Group 4 posts In case of non availability of visually impaired candidates with the basic educational qualification prescribed for the posts in Service Rules. |
| 9 | General Administration Department | G.O Ms.NO.33 Dated:03-02-2003 | Eligibility to apply for Group 4 posts for disabled persons without the qualification of intermediate Posts such as junior assistants/ junior typists / junior stenographers / junior accountant |
| 10 | Department for Women, Children, Disabled and Senior Citizens | G.O.Ms.No. 32 Dated: 13.07.2011 | 3% reservation in coaching and training facilities in welfare departments for competitive exams |
5. Social Security, Health & Rehabilitation, and Recreation
5.1 Persons with disabilities are awarded a pension of Rs. 500 per month. In case of minor children, the pension will be given to the parents of the child.
5.2 Three percent of housing sites are reserved for persons with disabilities with annual income not exceeding Rs. 11,000 and will be allotted free of cost.
Adult, unmarried persons with disabilities also are eligible for allotment of houses / flats under the Housing Department as separate units / families. The ground floor of all the houses under the Indira MMS scheme are reserved for persons with disabilities and the flats / houses are designed to be disability friendly. In case of persons with mental disabilities, the house / flat is allotted to the guardian in the name of the person with the disability.
5.3 Persons with disabilities are eligible to receive at least three per cent reservation in physical or financial coverage in the poverty alleviation schemes of the state departments and local authorities.
5.4 Marriage grant of Rs. 10,000 is provided to couples for marriage between person with disabilities and person without disabilities.
5.5 Persons with disabilities may enjoy benefits under multiple schemes irrespective of the nature of the benefit to them provided that each benefit / scheme gives a different type of support or rehabilitative support to them.
5.6 Students with 80% or more disabilities pursuing higher education / professional education are given direct loans from the government for procuring improved prosthetic aids or motorised vehicles from the funds given to the Managing Director, Andhra Pradesh Vikalangula Co-operative Corporation.
5.7 State government employees with disabilities are eligible for conveyance allowance at 10% of their basic pay to a maximum of Rs. 650 per month. Vehicle maintenance allowance is provided to persons with disabilities at the rates mentioned in the table below.
| Sr. No. | Issuing Authority | Notification No. | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Panchayati Raj and Rural Development Department | G.O.MS.No. 454 Dated: 14.11.2008 | Rs. 500 disability pension per month |
| 2 | Panchayati Raj and Rural Development Department | G.O.MS.No. 117 Dated: 29.03.2007 | Disability pension provided to all. In case of disabled children, parents given the pension |
| 3 | Social Welfare Department | G.O.Ms.No.133 Dated: 17.09.1997 | 3% housing sites allotted free of cost to persons with disabilities with annual income less than 11,000 |
| 4 | Housing Department | G.O.RT.No. 106 Dated: 27.3.2008 | Persons with disabilities allotted houses / flats under Housing Board Ground floor of apartments reserved for persons with disabilities Guardians of mentally disabled are allotted houses / flats in the name of the beneficiary |
| 5 | Department for Women, Children, Disabled and Senior Citizens | G.O.MS.No. 1 Dated: 9.01.2002 | 3% reservation in Coverage in poverty alleviation schemes |
| 6 | Department for Women, Children, Disabled and Senior Citizens | G.O.MS.No. 18 Dated: 19.6.2008 | Marriage grant of Rs. 10,000 for marriage between disabled and non-disabled persons |
| 7 | Department for Women, Children, Disabled and Senior Citizens | G.O.MS.No. 19, Dated: 25.6.2008 | Granting enjoyment of multiple schemes like scholarship / pension / economic support at the same time as long as each scheme provides a different support |
| 8 | Department for Women, Children, Disabled and Senior Citizens | G.O.RT.No. 194 Dated: 30.06.2008 | Government loans for procuring prosthetic aids and motorised vehicles Rs. 5000 given as incentive / subsidy Remaining amount not exceeding Rs. 60,000 – loan to be recovered in three years |
| 9 | Finance Department | G.O.Ms.No. 197 Dated:06-07-2006 | Conveyance allowance to state government employees at 10% of basic pay not exceeding Rs. 650 p.m. |
| 10 | Finance Department | G.O.MS.No. 276 Dated: 15.10.2005 | Vehicle maintenance allowance to persons with disabilities Cycles – Rs. 125 per month Motorised vehicles – Rs. 700 per month. |
6. Accessibility
6.1 All departments / local authorities / agencies are required to provide barrier free environment in all new buildings and public utilities for easy access of persons with disabilities.
6.2 Teachers and lecturers with visual impairment are given readers allowance for engaging readers to access printed material.
6.3 Committee constituted to prescribe JAWS software knowledge and practical ability instead of or along with typewriting for visually impaired candidates for the posts of typists, stenographers and data entry operators.
| Sr. No. | Issuing Authority | Notification No. | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Department for Women, Children, Disabled and Senior Citizens | G.O.MS.No. 30 Dated: 17.6.2002 | Barrier free access to all new buildings and public utilities |
| 2 | Department for Women, Children, Disabled and Senior Citizens | G.O.MS.No. 34 Dated: 16.07.2010 | Reader’s allowance for visually impaired teachers and lecturers Secondary grade teachers (including craft instructors) – Rs. 400 per month School assistants – Rs. 500 per month Junior lecturers and above – Rs. 600 per month |
| 3 | Department for Women, Children, Disabled and Senior Citizens | G.O. MS. No. 36 Dated: 03.08.2011 | Committee for prescribing use of JAWS software for visually impaired typists / stenographers / data entry operators |
7. Certification
7.1 All hospitals / government teaching hospitals in district head quarters are notified as district medical boards authorised to give certificates for persons with disabilities.
In case of loss of certificate, the person may apply to the board with FIR and the non-traceable certification from the police and a new certificate will be issued within 20 days of application.
| Sr. No. | Issuing Authority | Notification No. | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Department for Women, Children, Disabled and Senior Citizens | G.O.MS.No. 31 Dated: 1.12.2009 | All govt hospitals / govt teaching hospitals in district headquarters can issue disability certificates If original certificate is lost, application for duplicate should be made with FIR and police non traceable report Duplicate is issued within 20 days of application Disability-wise Appellate Boards: Orthopedically DISABLED / locomotor disability / dwarfs / hunchback / muscular dystrophy / leprosy-cured Osmania General Hospital, Hyderabad & Gandhi Hospital, Hyderabad Blindness / Low vision – Sarojini Devi Eye Hospital, Hyderabad Mental Retardation – Institute for Mental Health, HYDERABAD & National Institute for Mentally Handicapped Mental Illness – State Institute for Mental Health, Hyderabad Hearing Impairment – Government ENT Hospital, Koti, Hyderabad |
8. Schemes & Grants for Organisations & Individuals for Disabilities
8.1 There are no specific grants or schemes for organisations or individuals operating in the field of disabilities.
9. Disability Authorities
Andhra Pradesh has two authorities responsible for the welfare of persons with disabilities:
- Department for Women, Children, Disabled and Senior Citizens
- Commissioner for Disabilities.
[1].http://socialjustice.nic.in/statewisedisabled.php
[2].http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andhra_Pradesh
[3]. Girl Child Protection Scheme
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