National Resource Kit: The Jharkhand Chapter (Call for Comments)
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 Jharkhand.
Executive Summary
According to the 2001 Census, the number of persons with disability i Jharkhand amounted to about 4,48,377 which is roughly 3% of the total population of Jharkhand.[1] The largest section of the disabled population in Jharkhand is visually impaired, constituting about 41.53%. Statistics indicate that Jharkhand houses approximately 2.04% of the total disabled population of the country.
Quick Statistics:
- Capital: Ranchi
- Population: 32,966,238 (2011 Census)
- Population of Persons with Disabilities: 448,377 (2001 Census)
- Literacy: 67.63%
The Nodal Department in charge of the implementation and enforcement of the Rules and Acts concerning Persons with Disabilities is the Department of Social Welfare, Women and Child Development. The Jharkhand State Policy on Disability Rights seeks to ensure, inter alia, Participation, Inclusion, Barrier free environment, Empowerment and Self Advocacy.
Legal Provisions
The Jharkhand State Policy on Disability has been formulated under the provisions enshrined in the Central Policies and laws.
The State Policy seeks to facilitate the inclusion of disability rights in the strategies of the Government, to develop an integrated management system for the coordination of disability planning and its implementation, and finally, to develop a comprehensive plan of action that will include among other things, a strong public education system and awareness raising programmes. The Policy focuses mainly on the following areas:
- Public Education and Awareness Raising
- Prevention of Disabilities through Early Identification and Intervention, immunisation, healthy lifestyle promotion and so on.
- Health Care and Nutrition
- Community Based Rehabilitation
- Barrier Free Access
- Accessible and Flexible Public Transport System
- Inclusive Education
- Employment and Economic Empowerment
- Participation in Public Life
- Skill Development through special vocation training services
- Human Resource Development to ensure access to the necessary rehabilitation services
- Social Security
- Housing
- Cultural and Creative Activities and Sports
- Data Gathering and Research on Persons with Disabilities
- Special Focus areas: Mental Illness, Sensory and Multiple Disabilities, Women and Girls with Disabilities and Certification
Additionally, a new policy is set to be passed which will ensure a three per cent fund allotment in the State’s annual budget, for the upliftment of people with disability.[2]
Accessibility
The Department of Social Welfare, Jharkhand has not made any schemes under this category except for the following:
Concessions on Tickets: For persons with blindness, physical or mental disability, 75% concession on the price of tickets is given in sleeper class and 3rd AC compartment while 50% concession is given in 2nd and 1st AC. For persons who are hearing and speech impaired, a 50% concession is provided. A concession is also provided for any helper traveling with the person with disability.[3]
Tricycles and Wheelchairs: Tricycles, wheelchairs and other aids and appliances are to be provided to the physically challenged, however there is no specific scheme for the same.[4]
No other provisions have been made with regard to travel allowances.
Education
The state government provides for scholarships, reserevations and other facilities for stidents with disabilities. The benefits provided are as follows:
Scholarships and Stipends for students with disabilities:
- Class 1- 8 in Govt schools: Stipend of Rs. 50/- per student per month.
- Class 9 to Undergraduate degree in Govt school/ college: Stipend of Rs.250/- per student per month.
- Postgraduate degree in a Govt college: Stipend of Rs. 260/- per student per college.
- Boarders from Class 1-8 in a Govt school: Stipend of Rs. 100/- per student per month.
- Additionally, if any registered Non Governmental Organisation sets up a school for children with disabilities, students of that school are also to be taken care of. It is to be ensured that the schools have trained teachers and the necessary equipments.[5]
Reservation in Educational Institutions: As per Section 39 of the PWD Act, reservation of 3% is provided in government educational institutions as well as educational institutions funded by the government for persons with disabilities.
Non Formal education: 5th class dropout students with disabilities are to be given Non Formal education and children over the age of 16 are to be given special books, desired equipments and are to be taught through open schools and universities in order for them to attain functional literacy.[6]
Grants in Aid Schemes: The Department of Social Welfare runs various bodies and institutions through grants in aid to Non Governmental Organisations for the welfare of its target groups. Few of such schemes are as follows.
- Establishment of Schools for Spastic Children: The scheme for the spastic children is being implemented in this State through Non Governmental Organisations in different blocks of the State. For this scheme funds are provided to those Non Governmental Organisations that wish to open special schools for the benefit of spastic children.
- Schools for the Blind, Hearing and Speech Impaired: The State government has set up construction and renovation work for schools for the blind, hearing and speech impaired. In addition to these, 3 new schools and hostels have been completed. It is proposed to run these institutions with the help of capable Non Governmental Organisations.
Employment
Reservation in Government Jobs: As per Notification No. 728 dated 01/11/2007 read with Notification No. 5776 dated 10/10/2002 and Notification No. 5795 dated 10/10/2002, 3% of Government jobs have been reserved for persons with disabilities in the State.[7] Within this 3%, 1% of the jobs is reserved for persons with partial or complete blindness, 1% for people with hearing disability and 1% for people who are orthopaedically disabled.[8]
Health and Rehabilitation
No health and rehabilitation schemes have been formulated except for provision of equipment and aids and appliances.
Equipments for persons with disabilities: Equipments such as crutches, hearing aids, tricycles are being provided by the State government to persons with disabilities.
Social Protection
Swami Vivekananda Nisshakta Svawalamban Protsahan Yojana: This is a flagship scheme promulgated by the Jharkhand State Government with regard to the welfare of persons with disabilities in the State. Since the financial year 2006-07 the Government has started this scheme where an amount of Rs. 200/- per month is given to every person with disability living in the State and is above the age of 5 years as a stipend through Anganwadi workers. This amount has now been increased to Rs. 400/- per month.[9]
Minor Disability Sector scheme: Apart from the scheme of Swami Vivekananda Nisshakta Svawalamban Protsahan Yojana there are a few minor schemes relating to disability which are run by the Department of Social Welfare. They are as follows:
- Special Equipment for Disabled
- Scholarship to Handicapped
- Economic & Social Survey of the Disabled
- Workshop for the Disabled[10]
Reservation in Poverty Alleviation Programmes: Notification No. 3260 dated 06/06/2003 provides that any poverty alleviation programme of the Government must have a 3% reservation for persons with disabilities.[11]
Workshop for the Disabled: Under this scheme funds are provided to Non Governmental Organisations for conducting workshops, seminars etc. on disability, and also for organizing Abilympics and related events.[12] Abilympics is a vocational skills competition on the lines of the Olympics, held for persons with disabilities to showcase their talents.
Central Schemes
Cash Transfer Scheme: Jharkhand government has decided to bring all 24 districts of the state under Direct Cash Transfer scheme of the Central Government by May 2013. The Direct Cash Transfer scheme will start in four districts of Jharkhand- Ranchi, Ramgarh, Hazaribagh and Saraikela Kharsawan. The scheme would provide cash directly to persons with disability, in addition to scholarships and pensions for the elderly and other welfare schemes of Central Government through Aadhar cards.
Deendayal Disabled Rehabilitation Scheme to promote Voluntary Action for Persons with Disabilities: This is an umbrella scheme by the Central Government for the effective rehabilitation of persons with disabilities. The Jharkhand Government, under this scheme, provides assistance to Non Governmental Organisations for provision of a wide range of services to the disabled such as early intervention, programmes for pre school, vocational training, special education, community based rehabilitation, manpower development and so on.[13]
Assistance to Disabled Persons for Purchase/Fitting of Aids/Appliances (ADIP) Scheme: This scheme of the Central Government has been implemented by the Jharkhand Government. Funds are provided to the state notionally which are then allocated to Implementing Agencies for the purpose of assisting persons with disabilities to promote their physical, social and psychological rehabilitation by helping them.[14]
Scheme for providing Employment to Persons with Disabilities in the Private Sector: Incentives are being provided by the Government to the private sector employers in order to promote employment in the private sector as well.[15]
[1].http://www.jharkhand.gov.in/new_depts/socwf/Social%20Welfare%20Annual%20Plan%2009-10.pdf
[2].http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-09-05/ranchi/33614847_1_state-disability-commissioner-pwd-act-disability-act
[3].Directory for the Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities through Government and Non Governmental Organisations, pp.25-26.
[4].http://www.telegraphindia.com/1130302/jsp/jharkhand/story_16623167.jsp#.UYc8tLW7KAg
[5].http://socialwelfarejhar.com/ap12-13.pdf, p.5.
[6].Section 27 of the PWD Act.
[7].Directory for the Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities through Government and Non Governmental Organisations, p. 33.
[8]. Office Memorandum No.36035/3/2004-Estt.(Res.) dated 29.12.2005.
[9].http://socialwelfarejhar.com/
[10].http://www.jharkhand.gov.in/new_depts/ap201011/Social_welfare201011.pdf
[11].Supra, n.7.
[12].http://www.jharkhand.gov.in/new_depts/socwf/Social%20Welfare%20Annual%20Plan%2009-10.pdf
[13].http://socialjustice.nic.in/ddrs.php?pageid=6
[14].http://socialjustice.nic.in/adipjh.php
[15].http://socialjustice.nic.in/incentdd.php
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