Centre for Internet and Society

National Workshop on Web Accessibility

radha — 2011-08-31T10:46:56Z

The Centre for Internet and Society (CIS) and Society for Promotion of Alternative Computing and Employment (SPACE) are organizing a workshop on web accessibility for web developers from the public and private sector from September 25th to 26th, 2009.

The workshop seeks to bring together practitioners from Government Departments, as well as from small and medium enterprises across the country. The primary aim of this workshop is to demonstrate the importance of creating accessible web sites and to educate the developers of government and private web sites on how to incorporate accessibility features into new as well as existing web sites.

The training comprises both theory-oriented and practical sessions. The trainers are specialists in various aspects of web accessibility. The main focus will be on WCAG 2.0 guidelines. The workshop is for persons already involved in developing web sites with good knowledge of HTML, XML, CSS, etc. In addition to training web developers in accessibility, the workshop will also serve as a platform for capacity building by training potential accessibility trainers.

The programme is supported by Kerala State IT Mission, which runs INSIGHT - ICT Centre for the differently abled in association with SPACE.

The workshop will take place at Christ Nagar International School, Kowdiar, Thiruvananthapuram, between 09:30-17:30 hours each day.

Hurry! Interested persons are requested to register immediately as seats are limited.

Candidates may register directly on the website at http://c11.space-kerala.org/webw/ OR fill the application form attached and post/ submit to SPACE office (contact@space-kerala.org, thomas@space-kerala.org)

SPACE Office Address
Society for Promotion of Alternative Computing and Employment
C-11, Elankom Gardens,
Vellayambalam, Thiruvananthapuram
Kerala, India

To download the registeration form, please click here

For more details visit https://cis-india.org/events/announcement-of-national-workshop-on-web-accessibility

National Workshop on Web Accessibility

radha — 2011-08-22T12:54:22Z

Registration form

For more details visit https://cis-india.org/accessibility/publications/registration_form-%20Workshop%20on%20Web%20Accessibility.pdf

National Resource Kit: The Uttarakhand Chapter (Call for Comments)

anandi — 2013-11-07T06:15:11Z

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 Uttarakhand.

Executive Summary

Uttarakhand is yet to enact any specific legislation for persons with disabilities. The state currently implements certain social security schemes and provides scholarships for students with disabilities.

State Profile

Capital: Dehradun
Population: 10,116,752
Population of Persons with Disabilities: 1, 94, 769 (2001 Census)
Literacy: 79.63%
HDI: 0.515 Rank: 7th[1]
Department: Social Welfare Department
Directorate: Directorate of Social Welfare

Legal Provisions
The government of Uttarakhand has not enacted any legislation specifically for persons with disabilities. The state has implemented some social protection initiatives and schemes for education. These are listed categorically as below:

Education
Students with disabilities or students whose guardians are persons with disabilities and whose monthly income does not exceed Rs. 2000 are eligible to receive scholarships.

Scholarships are provided from class 1 to post-graduate level education as per the below mentioned rates and standards:

Category	Standard for Scholarship			Period (Maximum)
Handicapped Student	Class	Rate Per Month	Limit of Income of Parents
	1 - 5	Rs. 50/-	Maximum Rs.2000/- per month	12 months
	6 - 8	Rs. 80/-	Maximum Rs.2000/- per month	12 months
	9 - 10	Rs. 170/-	Maximum Rs.2000/- per month	12 months
Standard for Scholarship	Rate Per Month		Limit of Annual Income of Parents	Period (Maximum)
	Hosteller	Day Scholar	Maximum upto Rs.24,000/- per year	From the date of admission to the month of examination of the last year. (If the admission is taken after the 20th day of the month than the scholarship will be applicable from following month).
Inter	Rs.140/-	Rs. 85/-
Graduation	Rs.180/-	Rs. 125/-
Post Graduation and other Vocational Course	Rs.240/-	Rs.170/-

Social Protection
The government of Uttarakhand provides a maintenance grant to destitute persons with disabilities at the rate of Rs. 600 per month. Disabled persons eligible for this pension should either belong to the BPL category or persons whose monthly income does not exceed Rs. 1000. Persons with disabilities in the age group of 18 to 65 years with 80 per cent or more disability or who have multiple disabilities and are below the poverty line are eligible to receive a grant of Rs. 400 from the state government and Rs. 200 from the Government of India under the National Disability Pension Scheme. Persons with disabilities who are leprosy cured are eligible for a grant of Rs. 1000 per month. Persons with disabilities applying for the grant should at least have 40 per cent of disability as certified by the concerned Chief Medical Officer. He / she should not have any other source of income. Those applicants whose sons / grandsons are below 20 years of age and who live below the poverty line are eligible to apply for the grant.

The government has brought out a scheme that honours employees for achievements with state level awards for the best employee in case of employees with disabilities and persons with disabilities who are self employed. Other categories include best employer and placement officers. The government provides a cash award of Rs. 500 along with a letter of appreciation by the Department of Social Welfare.

The state provides marriage grants for persons with disabilities provided that the couple are citizens of India and are domiciled in Uttarakhand or have been residing in the state for five or more years and provided that neither the bride nor the groom have been convicted in any criminal case. Rs. 11,000 is given as a grant when the bridegroom is disabled and a grant of Rs. 14,000 is given in cases where either the bride or both bride and groom are disabled.

The government of Uttarakhand has introduced a shop construction rehabilitation scheme wherein those persons with disabilities who have their own land will be provided a loan of Rs. 20,000 to set up their shop. The government provides Rs. 15,000 as loan at an interest of four per cent and the remaining Rs. 5000 is given as a grant.

Persons with disabilities are eligible to travel free of cost on buses belonging to the State Road Transport Corporation.

The Department of Social Welfare provides a maximum grant of Rs. 3500 to persons with disabilities for the purchase of artificial organ and hearing aid equipment. Persons with disabilities applying for this grant should not have a monthly income of more than 1000

Under the central ADIP scheme, persons with disabilities are provided grants to acquire artificial organs, aids and appliances through the implementing agencies / institutions. These are:

Narayan Sewa Sansthan Trust, Sewadham Sewanagar, Hiran Magari, Sector-4, Udaipur – 313040 – Rajasthan
Bajaj Institute of Learning, 155, Rajpur Road, Dehradun
National Institute for the Blind, 116, Rajpur Road, Dehradun.

The state government conducts camps and seminars for persons with disabilities to sanction their pensions. These camps are conducted near their village panchayats or judicial panchayats for the convenience of persons with disabilities.

[1].https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uttarakhand

For more details visit https://cis-india.org/accessibility/blog/national-resource-kit-uttarakhand-chapter-call-for-comments

National Resource Kit: The Uttar Pradesh Chapter (Call for Comments)

Manojna Yeluri — 2013-04-03T10:49:25Z

The Centre for Internet & Society and the Hans Foundation are pleased to bring you its research on the state of laws, policies and programmes for persons with disabilities in the state of Uttar Pradesh.

Note: This chapter is an early draft which is in the process of being reviewed and updated. Comments and feedback are welcome.

Summary

The State of Uttar Pradesh has taken several measures by way of schemes, programmes, government orders and notifications for the benefit of persons living with disabilities. The state government has established shelter homes and vocational training centres in several parts of the states — most recently in Meerut, Bareilly and Gorakhpur. The state government has also undertaken to finance nearly 4340 corrective surgeries for polio across nine cities of Uttar Pradesh. The state government has also attempted to alleviate stress and difficulties faced in the process of procuring a disability certificate, by providing clear guidelines as to the issue and procurement of such certificates, and by also creating a decentralised system of disability certification where the certification may be obtained from private practitioners, government health care centres, primary and secondary health care centres, private psychologists and psychiatrists who are authorised to issue certificates of mental retardation (MR).

The State of Uttar Pradesh has thus emphasised the need for several notifications and schemes to suit the specialized requirements of persons with disabilities. The Disabled Welfare Department vide GO No 1464/65-2-2000-178/2000 dated 30.09.2000 released a list of the various schemes and allied programme measures made available by the State Government for the benefit of persons with disabilities and the eligibility criteria for those interested in availing benefits under this. The schemes and measures mentioned in the order include;

Schemes for providing scholarships for educational and vocational training to students who have been physically disabled (Students from Class 1-12, Graduation and Post Graduation).
Schemes to provide disability pension for unemployed and poor persons suffering from visual impairment, speech impediments and physical disability.
Schemes to provide financial assistance for the purchase and procurement of aids and appliances.
Scheme to provide incentives and grants to encourage marriages with persons living with disabilities.
Schemes related to providing free travel by bus to persons with disabilities
Schemes for the employment and setting up of shops by persons with disabilities, 1998

The State of Uttar Pradesh has also intended to start several projects in 2013. These include the establishment of a Braille Press in order to produce Braille books, magazines and other study material.

Click to download the full chapter here.

For more details visit https://cis-india.org/accessibility/blog/national-resource-uttar-pradesh-chapter-call-for-comments

National Resource Kit: The Tripura Chapter (Call for Comments)

CLPR — 2013-11-13T09:58:16Z

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 Tripura.

Note: The chapter is an early draft and will undergo subsequent modifications. We welcome comments and feedback from our readers.

Executive Summary

In February 2008, Tripura was ranked to be the second among the North eastern states in their implementation of Persons with Disabilities Act, 1995.

Quick Statistics

Capital: Agartala
Population (2011): 3,671,032
People with disabilities (2000): 58,940
Literacy: 87.75%

Legal Provisions

The Government of Tripura has not implemented any state specific legislation and has enforced the following schemes under the Department of Social Welfare:

Accessibility

Free bus pass for persons with disabilities are given for travel on the State Transport Buses

Aids and Appliances
There is no State Government scheme for provision of aids and appliances. The Central Government Assistance to Disabled Persons Scheme (ADIP) has distributed funds to the state of Tripura for implementation. [1]

Education

Educational Institutions: 2 seats are reserved in each industrial training Institutes. A special residential school is set up in the State with modern Instruments for the hearing and speech impaired students.
In 2009, the Tripura government planned on introducing a home-based education program (HBEP) for children with disabilties who were unable to attend schools, in lieu of governmental measures to train teachers and equip schools with adequate infrastructure for disabled students.
Scholarship/Stipend: Scholarship is given to different category of students with disabilities from Class I to Class VIII. The details are as follows:

Rs.70/– p.m. to Rs.95/– p.m. – For blind and hearing impaired.
Rs.60/– p.m. to Rs.80/– p.m. – For other categories of handicapped
Students of Class IX to University level also get scholarship up to the maximum of Rs.240/– p.m. depending on the class/course. Scholarship is also given to the students with disablties for doing music course, vocational course, technical course and professional course.[2]

Employment

Reservation in Government Job: 3% jobs in Class III and Class IV posts are reserved for the persons with disabilities
Age Relaxation: Upper age limit is relaxed by 5 yrs for persons with disabilties for applying in Government Jobs.
Conveyance Allowance: Conveyance allowance up to Rs.50/– p.m. is given to the employees with disabilities belonging Grade ‘C’ and ‘D’.
Assistance for self-employment: Persons with disabilities get assistance for self-employment from the State Government.

Social Protection

Incentive for Marrying disabled: Incentive to the tune of Rs.5000/– for the marriage to a person with disabilities is given by the Social Welfare Department of the State Government.
Five persons in each of the 956 Gram Panchayats, 9 Nagar Panchayats and each ward of the municipality area (Agartala Municipality) are being given pension at the rate of Rs.100/–p.m.[3]

Miscellaneous

Tripura has a web based application called Physically Challenged Persons Information System (PCPIS) which issues disability certificates to physically challenged persons on the day of their medical checkup; captures details like personal information, education and employment information along with their image and fingerprint; as well as a record of the state assistance they make use of (scholarship, stipend for the complete blind, travelling allowance, etc.) and a record of the appliances issued to the person by the District Disability Rehabilitation Centre.

[1]. http://www.tripurastat.com/socialandwelfareschemes/27/disabledscheme/369478/stats.aspx

[2]. http://www.tripurastat.com/socialandwelfareschemes/27/disabledscheme/369478/stats.aspx

[3]. http://tsu.trp.nic.in/src/AboutSRC3.htm, http://mospi.nic.in/Mospi_New/upload/disablity_india_statistical_data_11mar2011/Appendix%201%20Tables.pdf

[4]. http://www.tripurastat.com/socialandwelfareschemes/27/disabledscheme/369478/stats.aspx

For more details visit https://cis-india.org/accessibility/blog/the-tripura-chapter

National Resource Kit: The Tamil Nadu Chapter (Call for Comments)

Shruti Ramakrishnan — 2013-11-07T06:20:16Z

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 Tamil Nadu.

Note: This is an early draft which will be modified and updated subsequently. Feedback and comments are welcome.

Tamil Nadu has around 1.6 million disabled persons and is the only state with a higher number of disabled females than males in India. Reservations for persons with disabilities in state services and educational institutions are being provided from 1981 onwards in lieu of it being the International year for the disabled.

The Department for the Welfare of Differently Abled Persons (WDAP) is the main department that deals with persons with disabilities in the state. However other departments such as the Department of Social Welfare and Nutritious Meal Programme (SWNMP) and the Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms (DPAR) also extend various benefits and issue schemes for the welfare of disabled persons.

Read the full chapter by clicking on the link below.

Tamil Nadu Chapter

For more details visit https://cis-india.org/accessibility/blog/national-resource-kit-tamil-nadu-chapter-call-for-comments

National Resource Kit: The Sikkim Chapter (Call for Comments)

Manojna Yeluri — 2013-11-07T06:14:43Z

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 Sikkim.

Executive Summary

According to the 2001 Census, nearly 20,367 persons or 3% of the State population are identified as persons living with disabilities. The responsibility of ensuring the welfare of these persons with disabilities primarily rests with the Social Welfare Division of the Social Justice, Empowerment and Welfare Department of the Government of Sikkim. This Government department implements various policies, programmes and schemes aimed at the welfare and empowerment of persons living with disabilities.

Screening camps and medical camps emphasising the medical welfare of persons with disabilities are periodically arranged by the Government of Sikkim in conjunction with the STNM Government Hospital. Vide Notification No. 02/HC, HS&FW dated 30.01.09 by the Department of Healthcare, Human Services and Family Welfare, disability screening camps are to be arranged on specific dates of the month by the District Medical Board members in the respective District Hospitals accompanied by officers of the Sikkim Department of Social Justice, Empowerment and Welfare and the staff of various Deendayal District Rehabilitation Centres.[1]

The Government of Sikkim has also introduced other measures such as the establishment of special schools for children with disabilities. The Social Welfare Department of Sikkim has established a Special School for Hearing impaired children in June 2004 at Sitchey Busty, Gangtok. The school is residential in nature, providing accommodation, education and other facilities towards ensuring the general welfare for children suffering from hearing impairments.[2]

Furthermore, the Sikkim Government attempts to spread its reach by collaborating with several non- governmental organisations or NGOs in the state. The Government of Sikkim provides certain NGOs with financial assistance, subject to the fulfilment of certain conditions. As a result, NGOs have been able to provide better treatment and rehabilitation facilities to persons suffering from disabilities and living in the State of Sikkim.[3]

Accessibility
The only measures introduced in Sikkim on accessibility is concessions in transport. Free travel facility to the blind is provided in state owned buses.

Apart from the the State’s IT Policy issued by the Department of Information Technology states that it will develop special software for providing IT access to persons with visual impairment, cerebral palsy, speech and hearing disorders in association with NGOs and local enterpreuners. It is not clear if such software has already been developed by the State.

Education
The State of Sikkim provides special measures to children with disabilities in the pursuit of their education.

Stipends and Scholarship Schemes

A stipend of Rs. 500/- per month per child, and Rs.500 per annum towards their studies in special schools outside of the state are provided for by the Department of Social Justice, Empowerment and Welfare.
The Government also provides a scholarship amount of Rs. 50 per month to every child studying in Class I to VI, Rs. 60 per month to every child in Class VII and Class VIII, and finally Rs.85 per month for every student in Class IX to XII.
A scholarship amount of Rs. 800 per month is provided to students desirous of pursuing their higher education in institutions established outside of Sikkim, and Rs. 2000 for all those students wishing to pursue their higher education in institutions in the State of Sikkim.[4]

Special Schools
The Social Welfare Division has established a Special School for the Hearing impaired children in June 2004 at Sitchey Busty, Gangtok. It is a residential School where accommodation, education and general welfare for the hearing impaired children are provided.

Employment

Reservation in Government Jobs: By Office Order No. 5/SW dated 31.12.1990, in Grade 'C' and 'D' posts reservation are provided in direct recruitment for physically handicapped persons as indicated below:

Visually handicapped - 1%
Orthopaedically handicapped – 1%
Hearing handicapped - 1%

Conveyance Allowance: Government and PSU employees who are blind and locomotor disabled are provided conveyance allowance.
Self-Employment: Persons with disabilities receive assistance for self-employment.
Vocational Training: Vocational training is given to persons with disabilities in sheltered workshops.

Health and Rehabilitation

Aids and appliances: Persons with disabilities get free of cost prosthetic equipment.
Assistance to Disabled Persons for Purchase/Fitting of Aids and Appliances (ADIP) Scheme: As per the implementation of this Central Scheme, the Government of Sikkim provides assistance to those persons with disabilities who are in need of durable, sophisticated and scientifically manufactured, modern, standard aids and appliances. The purpose of this scheme is to ensure the promotion of the physical, social and psychological rehabilitation of persons with disabilities by reducing the effects of disabilities and to thereby enhance their economic potential. Aids and appliances that are provided include walking sticks, crutches, and wheel chairs. These appliances have been distributed to those persons with disabilities belonging to families living Below the Poverty Line (BPL).
Deendayal District Rehabilitation Scheme: Under this scheme, the Government of Sikkim has established a district disability rehabilitation centre in at STNM Hospital complex Gangtok in 2000. This DDRC has been working towards the rehabilitation of persons living with disabilities in Sikkim. In an effort to further facilitate the proper rehabilitation of persons with disabilities, the Government of Sikkim has made available the facilities of a Mobile Disability Van and a Mobile Rehabilitation Unit Van. In the Fiscal Year of 2009-10, 526 aids and appliances were distributed from the Deendayal District Rehabilitation Centre and 9 disability camps were conducted with two camps having been held in the Western district of the State, three in the South and East and one in the North.

Social Protection

Disability Pension: Persons with disability above 40 years of age are provided disability pension of Rs. 100/- per month. Blind persons also get Rs. 100/- per month.
Indira Gandhi National Disability Pension Scheme: The State of Sikkim provides social protection to persons with disabilities by way of local implementation of the Indira Gandhi National Disability Pension Scheme. The purpose of the scheme is to provide persons with disabilities in the age group of 18 to 64 years, who are members of families living below the poverty line, with a certain sum of money in order to provide for their welfare. The beneficiaries under this scheme include all those persons suffering from severe or multiple disabilities as defined under the Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act, 1995and the ‘National Trust for the Welfare of Persons with Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Mental Retardation and Multiple Disabilities Act, 1999 (National Trust Act 1999)’. In total, beneficiaries under this scheme receive an amount of Rs. 600/- per month.
Subsistence Allowance: Under the auspices of the Department of Social Justice, Empowerment and Welfare, the Sikkim Government provides a subsistence allowance amounting to Rs. 600 per month to persons with disabilities living in the state. In order to avail of the benefits under this scheme, beneficiaries must show that they are suffering from atleast 40% disability and that they should be a resident of the state of Sikkim. Furthermore, the beneficiary must hail from a family identified as a BPL or below the poverty line family.

[1]. http://sikkimsocialwelfare.in/General/SocialWelfare/Camps.aspx

[2]. http://sikkimsocialwelfare.in/General/SocialWelfare/SchoolForDeaf.aspx

[3]. http://sikkimsocialwelfare.in/General/SocialWelfare/AsstToVolOrg.aspx

[4]. http://sikkimsocialwelfare.in/General/SocialWelfare/WelfareForHandicapped.aspx

[5]. http://sikkimsocialwelfare.in/General/SocialWelfare/IGNDS.aspx

For more details visit https://cis-india.org/accessibility/blog/national-resource-kit-sikkim-chapter-call-for-comments

National Resource Kit: The Rajasthan Chapter (Call for Comments)

Manojna Yeluri — 2013-11-07T06:17:18Z

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 Rajasthan.

The 2001 Census revealed that in Rajasthan 2.5% of the population consisted of disabled persons. During the same year, the Rajasthan Government conducted a door to door survey in order to categorize the disabilities according to the seven categories listed in the Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act, 1995. Among the disabled, the highest number of 53.4 % was persons with visual impairment. Rajasthan also has 6.45% of the total disabled population in India, the sixth largest in the country.

Quick Statistics:

Capital: Jaipur
Population: 5,65,07,188
Population of Persons with Disabilities:14,11,979
Literacy: 67.1%

The Department of Social Welfare and Empowerment, Rajasthan implements the various rules and schemes concerning persons with disabilities in Rajasthan. The State Government has also appointed a Commissioner for Disabilities. In May 2010, the Rajasthan Government appointed a task force on disability to develop a Comprehensive Disability Policy for the state. The policy aims at including disability rights, values and practices into government developmental strategies, planning and programs and development of an integrated management system for the coordination of disability planning. The policy is still in the pre-cabinet stage.

The State Government has also introduced various schemes for welfare of persons with disability. Out of these, schemes such as the Viswas Yojana to provide loan and subsidy for self-employment, Sukhad Jeevan Yojana to provide assistance for marriage of disabled persons and the Aastha Yojana etc. are some of the more important ones.

Click to download the Rajasthan Chapter

For more details visit https://cis-india.org/accessibility/blog/national-resource-kit-rajasthan-call-for-comments

National Resource Kit: The Punjab Chapter (Call for Comments)

anandi — 2013-11-07T06:14:03Z

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 Punjab.

Executive Summary

Punjab has not enacted any specific law or state policy for persons with disabilities in the state. The Social Security and Women and Child Development Department, which is primarily responsible for the welfare of persons with disabilities within the state, has implemented several schemes for the benefit of persons with disabilities. There are eight schemes in education, seven schemes in employment and four schemes in social protection.

State Profile

Capital: Chandigarh
Population: 27,704,236
Population of Persons with Disabilities: 4,24,523 (2001 Census)
Literacy: 76.68%
HDI: 0.679 Rank: 9^th (2005)[1]
Department: Social Security and Women and Child Development Department

Legal Provisions
The government of Punjab has not enacted any law for persons with disabilities nor has any state policy been introduced or implemented for persons with disabilities. However, the department that is primarily responsible for the welfare of persons with disabilities in Punjab has been implementing several schemes for the persons with disabilities. These schemes have been listed below as:

Education
Students with visual impairment are allowed The government provides three per cent reservation for persons with disabilities in different courses in all the universities in Punjab.

Students with visual impairment are allowed the use of a scribe while appearing for their examinations. The government provides students with visual impairment a sum of Rs. 50 per month as allowance for their helper.

The government provides a scholarship of Rs. 200 per month for students with disabilities up to class VIII and Rs. 300 per month scholarship for disabled students from class IX onwards. In addition to the above scholarship, girls with disabilities and disabled rural learners up to class X are provided an attendance scholarship of Rs. 1500 every year along with a scholarship of Rs. 1000 per year towards uniform and stationery. The government has a provision to award a scholarship of Rs. 1500 per year towards clothes and Rs. 1500 per year towards stationery for girls with disabilities studying in class XI and above.

The Punjab School Education Board has exempted students with visual impairment and students with hearing impaired from appearing for the middle standard Examinations.

Students with disabilities are exempted from appearing for practical examinations. They are graded based on their performance in the written examination.

The government of Punjab provides free books to students with visual impairment upto the age of 18 years.

Students with visual impairment are permitted to select two optional subjects in place of science and mathematics. These include additional languages, music and musical instruments.

Employment
The government of Punjab provides three per cent reservation for direct recruitment of persons with disabilities in all the state departments, boards and corporations. The government further provides three per cent reservation in the promotion of employees with disabilities in groups A, B, C and D. The three per cent reservation is split up as one per cent for visually impaired, one per cent for hearing impaired and one per cent for physically disabled.

The state government has opened an employment office for providing employment opportunities to persons with disabilities at SCO no. 118-119, Sector 22, Chandigarh.

The government of Punjab provides three per cent reservation for direct recruitment of persons with disabilities in all the state departments, boards and corporations. The government further provides three per cent reservation in the promotion of employees with disabilities in groups A, B, C and D. The three per cent reservation is split up as one per cent for visually impaired, one per cent for hearing impaired and one per cent for physically disabled.

The state government has opened an employment office for providing employment opportunities to persons with disabilities at SCO no. 118-119, Sector 22, Chandigarh.

Punjab provides persons with disabilities an age relaxation of ten years in fixed age limit during the recruitment process. The government has also extended the service period for persons with disabilities by extending their retirement age to 60 years from the regular 58 years.

Persons with disabilities who are unable to type are exempted by the government from taking the typing examination during the tests for recruitment of clerks.

Persons with disabilities who are employees of the state government are provided a conveyance allowance of Rs. 450 per month in addition to their salaries.

The National Handicapped Finance and Development Corporation, Faridabad provides loans at low interest rates for persons with disabilities to start their own business ventures. The state government has declared the Scheduled Caste and Finance Corporation the state channelizing agency.

The department runs the Government Workshop for the Physically Disabled at Ludhiana to impart training to persons with disabilities in occupations such as weaving, hosiery, caning, candle making etc. Trainees enrolled for the courses are eligible to receive a scholarship of Rs. 300 per month.

Health & Rehabilitation
The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment (Government of India) has established the Regional Spine Injuries Centre at Sector 70 SAS Nagar, Mohali. Spinal operations for the patients from Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir are done at this centre.

Social Protection
The government provides a disability pension of Rs. 250 per month to persons with disabilities.

Persons with disabilities who are unemployed and have registered themselves with the employment exchange are provided with unemployment allowance based on their disability and educational qualification.

Category	Matric / Under graduate	Graduate / Post Graduate
Visually impaired / Hearing impaired	Rs. 450 p.m.	Rs. 600 p.m.
Physically disabled	Rs. 225 p.m.	Rs. 300 p.m.

The state government has made provisions to award employees with disabilities for outstanding achievement at the workplace. The state government also recognises outstanding employers, institutions for the disabled, social workers and other players for their contribution through cash awards.

Persons with disabilities who are visually impaired or physically disabled are eligible for free transport on state transport buses – Punjab Roadways and PRTC.

[1]. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Punjab,_India

For more details visit https://cis-india.org/accessibility/blog/national-resource-kit-punjab-chapter-call-for-comments

National Resource Kit: The Puducherry Chapter (Call for Comments)

anandi — 2013-11-07T06:12:33Z

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 Puducherry.

Executive Summary

The union territory of Puducherry has not passed any legislation for persons with disabilities but implements the provisions under the central laws. The benefits that are currently being offered to persons with disabilities include educational scholarships and social protection programmes that provide financial assistance, aids and appliances and subsidised fuel among others. The government currently implements around 21 schemes for persons with disabilities.

Quick Statistics

Capital: Puducherry
Population: 1,247,953
Population of Persons with Disabilities: 25,857
Literacy: 85.85%[1]
HDI: 0.748[2]
Department: Social Welfare Department

Legal Provisions

The union territory of Puducherry has not passed any special legislation for persons with disabilities but implements the provisions under the three central laws:

Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act 1995
National Trust for Persons with Cerebral Palsy, Autism, Mental Retardation and Multiple Disabilities Act 1999
Rehabilitation Council of India Act 1992

Puducherry implements various schemes for the welfare of persons with disabilities that are listed below in various categories:

Education

The government offers scholarships to eligible students with disabilities in the following categories:

Class / Standard	Amount
Class I to Class V	Rs. 250 per annum
Class VI to Class VIII	Rs. 500 per annum
IX Std to XII Std	Rs. 850 per annum
UG courses	Rs. 1250 per annum
PG courses / Professional Courses	Rs. 1700 per annum

Students with disabilities applying for the scholarships should fulfil the following conditions:

Total income of the family should not be more than Rs. 35,000 per annum
Extent of disabilities of applicants should be 40 per cent or more
Applicants should not be less than five years of age and should have resided in Puducherry for not less than five years.

Social Protection

The government offers annual state awards in recognition of persons with disabilities and services rendered to them. An award of Rs. 10,000 is offered to one outstanding employee with disability in either government or private employment or a person who is self employed. An award of Rs. 15,000 is given to an individual serving the cause of persons with disabilities. An award of Rs. 25,000 is given to an institute serving the cause of persons with disabilities. The awards are given subject to selection by a state level committee. Persons with disabilities selected for awards should have a minimum of 40 per cent disability.

Persons with disabilities who are employees of the government are covered by a group insurance scheme. In case of death of any employee with disability due to an accident while in service, the sum insured would be paid to the family of the deceased employee as follows:

Category	Sum Assured
Group A	Rs. 1, 20,000
Group B	Rs. 60,000
Group C	Rs. 30,000
Group D	Rs. 15,000

Employees of the government with 40 per cent or more disability are covered under this scheme.

Persons with disabilities who are not employees of the Puducherry government are covered under the Insurance Scheme for Persons with Disabilities other than the employees of the Government of Puducherry 2004. In case of death of the disabled person due to an accident, an amount of Rs. 25,000 is paid to the family. In case of loss of one limb or one eye, an amount of Rs. 12,500 is paid to the person. The policy covers persons with disabilities in the age group of five to 74 years with disability of 40 per cent or more and who are residents of Puducherry for not less than five years.

The government of Puducherry issues identity cards to persons with disabilities for ready reference to avail the benefits of welfare schemes. Persons with disability of not less than 40 per cent and whose total income does not exceed Rs. 35,000 per annum are eligible to apply for identity cards.

The government provides marriage grant for persons with disabilities. For marriage between a disabled person and a non disabled person, a grant of Rs. 25,000 is provided, of which Rs. 5000 is given in cash and Rs. 20,000 is given in the form of National Savings Certificate. For marriage between persons with disabilities, a grant of Rs. 50,000 is given. Of this, Rs. 20,000 is paid in cash and Rs. 30,000 is given in the form of National Savings Certificate. Persons with disabilities applying for this grant should fulfil the following eligibility criteria:

Total income should not exceed Rs. 35,000 per annum
Should be above the age of 18 years (in case of women) and 21 years (in case of men).
Extent of disability should be 40 per cent or above
Should be the first marriage of the applicant
Marriage should be registered with the registrar
Should be a resident of the union territory of Puducherry
Application for the grant should be made within 120 days of the marriage

The government of Puducherry implements a scheme to provide subsidy on fuel to persons with disabilities who own motorised vehicles. The scheme provides 50 per cent subsidy on fuel to a maximum of 25 litres per month. Applicants who fulfil the following eligibility criteria are eligible to apply:

Total income should not exceed Rs. 35,000 per annum
Extent of disability should be 40 per cent or more
Applicant should have resided in Puducherry for more than five years
The vehicle should be registered in the name of the applicant
Applicant should have a valid driver’s licence

The government of Puducherry grants financial assistance to persons with disabilities. Persons whose extent of disabilities are between 40 percent and 65 per cent are eligible for a grant of Rs. 1100 per month, those with disabilities between 66 per cent and 85 per cent are eligible for a grant of Rs. 1400 per month and persons with more than 86 per cent disabilities are eligible for a grant of Rs. 1750 per month. Persons applying for financial assistance should not have income exceeding Rs. 35,000 per annum and should have resided in Puducherry for not less than five years. Extent of disabilities for visually impaired, orthopedically disabled and hearing and speech impaired should be 40 per cent or more and those with mental disabilities should have an IQ less than 69 to be eligible to apply.

The government offers reimbursement for maintenance of tricycles for persons with disabilities. A grant of Rs. 200 per annum is offered to persons who fulfil the following criteria:

Extent of disability should be 40 per cent or more
Applicant should have resided in Puducherry for not less than five years
Tricycle should have been supplied by the Department or NGO free of cost
Applicant should produce the bill for repair charges issued in their name

The government supplies motorised tricycles free of cost to persons with locomotor disability affecting the lower limbs. The disability should be not less than 65 per cent. Total annual income of the applicant’s family should not exceed Rs. 35,000. Applicant should have resided in Puducherry for not less than five years. The applicant should be certified by the concerned medical authority that he or she is able to operate the motorised vehicle. The applicant should not be in receipt of transport allowance for conveyance from the department or any other source. The applicant should be in gainful employment or be pursuing higher studies.

Persons with disabilities are provided aids and appliances such as callipers, crutches, tricycles, hearing aids, spectacles and low vision aids by the government upon the advice of the specialists concerned attached to government general hospitals at Puducherry, Karaikal, Mahe and Yanam. Persons applying for these appliances should have an income not exceeding Rs. 24,000 per annum, should have resided in Puducherry for not less than five years and the extent of their disability should be 40 per cent or more.

The government provides free bus passes to persons with disabilities for travelling within the union territory. Persons with at least 40 per cent disabilities, who are residents of Puducherry for not less than five years and whose annual income does not exceed Rs. 35,000 are eligible to apply for the free bus passes.

Persons with disabilities are eligible to receive Rs. 100 per month through Anganwadi centres towards transport allowance. Persons applying for the allowance should fulfil the following eligibility criteria:

Total income should not exceed Rs. 35,000 per annum
Should be above five years of age
Extent of disability should be 40 per cent or more
Should not have any formal educational qualification
Should have resided in Puducherry for not less than five years

If the applicant is in possession of free bus pass, he or she should surrender the same to the Directorate of Social Welfare. Applicant should also declare in the application form whether he or she would prefer to avail the transport allowance or the free bus pass.

Organisations working for the welfare of persons with disabilities are eligible to received musical and sports equipment from the government. Organisations must be registered to be eligible for this scheme.

Persons with visual impairment are eligible to receive a radio from the government. Applicants must meet the following eligibility criteria:

Income should not exceed Rs. 35,000 per annum
Extent of disability should be 40 per cent or more
Should have been a resident of Puducherry for not less than five years

Persons with disabilities are provided sarees and dhotis during Deepavali and other regional festivals. Persons wishing to benefit from the scheme should have at least 40 per cent disability, should have resided in Puducherry for not less than five years and should have registered themselves with the local Anganwadi centres.

The government of Puducherry conducts a free annual tour for persons with disabilities to places of interest. Participants are selected for the tour conditionally upon meeting the following eligibility criteria:

Should be in the age group of 18 to 50 years
Extent of disability should be 40 per cent or more
Should not be a government employee or child of a government employee
Income should not exceed Rs. 35,000 per annum
Should not have attended the tour in the past ten years
Should not suffer from any contagious diseases
Should have registered their names in the local Anganwadi centres

The government of Puducherry celebrates the International Day for Persons with Disabilities on the 3rd of December every year with activities and games.

Puducherry implements the Perunthalaivar Karmaveerar Kamaraj scheme towards funeral expenses of persons with disabilities. A grant of Rs. 2000 is given for the funeral expenses of persons with at least 40 per cent disability who have resided in Puducherry for not less than five years and whose income was less than Rs. 35,000 per annum. The grant is paid to the family member under whose care the deceased person was living at the time of his or her death.

Miscellaneous

Puducherry offers cash incentive to eye donors to encourage eye donation. An incentive of Rs. 10,000 is awarded to a close relative of the donor. Donors should be 18 years of age or older to be eligible. Donors should have resided in Puducherry for not less than five years. The incentive can be claimed by a close relative only after the transplantation is completed. The incentive can be claimed only upto 90 days after the transplantation.

[1]. http://www.census2011.co.in/census/state/puducherry.html

[2].http://indiatext.net/states-of-india/

For more details visit https://cis-india.org/accessibility/blog/ational-resource-kit-puducherry-chapter-call-for-comments

National Resource Kit: The Odisha Chapter (Call for Comments)

anandi — 2013-11-07T06:14:29Z

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 Odisha.

Executive Summary

Odisha has the highest percentage (2.78%) of persons with disabilities in the country. The state has framed the Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Amended Odisha Rules 2012 to implement the provisions under the central Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act 1995. The state has issued two notifications in education, one notification in employment and one notification for health and rehabilitation.

State Profile

Capital: Bhubaneswar
Population: 41,947,358[1]
Population of Persons with disabilities: 10, 50,000 (2.78%)[2]. (Census 2001)
HDI: 0.452 Rank: 27th
Literacy: 73.45%
Department: Women and Child Development Department
Directorate: Directorate for Welfare of Persons with Disabilities

Legal Provisions

The state of Odisha has framed the Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Amended Odisha Rules 2012 to implement the provisions under the central Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act 1995 (Persons with Disabilities Act).[3] These rules have been issued as an amendment to the previous Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Odisha Rules 2003.

The government of Odisha has formed the Directorate for Welfare of Persons with Disabilities under the Women and Child Development Department to cater to the requirements of persons with disabilities in the state.[4] The government has appointed the Collectors of each district as Deputy Commissioners for Persons with Disabilities for their respective district to assist the State Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities in discharging their functions.[5]

The state in exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (2) (i) and (2) (h) of Section 13 of the persons with Disabilities Act, appointed the State Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities (SCPD) and Chairperson, Odisha State Commission for Protection of Child Rights as members of the State Co-ordination Committee as constituted in the Department Notification No. 708-WCD, dated the 8th January 2003.[6]

The various provisions by the state of Odisha for the persons with disabilities are listed categorically as under:

Education
The government of Odisha has framed the guidelines for establishment, recognition and grant-in-aid to institutions imparting education to children with disabilities to fulfil the mandates under the Persons with Disabilities Act, National Trust for the Welfare of Persons with Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Mental Retardation and Multiple Disabilities Act 1998 and the Right of Education Act, 2009. [7]

Odisha offers an integrated scholarship scheme for students with disabilities titled ‘Banishree – A Scholarship for Students with Special Needs’.[8] The scheme is open to students to continue their education from Class I to university education. Students from middle school and upwards (Class V and upwards) are eligible to apply under this scheme only if they do not receive any scholarship from the Government of India. Students from special schools registered under the Persons with Disabilities Act are eligible to apply provided that they are not in receipt of any grant-in-aid from the central or state government. Students with disabilities pursuing distance education through recognised universities and government organisation, or those pursuing professional, technical or professional courses in any of the recognised institutes are eligible to apply.

Applicants must fulfill the following eligibility criteria:
Should be bonafide resident of Odisha
Should be a regular student of the educational institution
Total income of the applicant’s family should not be more than Rs. 60,000 per annum.
Should not be in receipt of any assistance, stipend or scholarship from the central or state governments under any other scheme.
Should enrol and regularly attend any institution irrespective of whether the applicant has passed the examination or not in a particular year.

The rates of the scholarship offered under the scheme are given as below:

Within the state:

Class I – Class V: Rs. 100 per month
Class VI – Class XI: Rs. 140 per month
Class +2 and Class +3: Rs. 160 per month
University – Post Graduation: Rs. 190 per month
Technical and Vocational: Rs. 190 per month

Outside the state:

Students prosecuting normal course of study or technical/ vocational / professional education/training not available in the State and not covered by Govt. of India Scholarship are given a scholarship of Rs. 250 per month.

Reader allowance for students with visual impairment:

Primary school: Rs. 100 per month
Middle and High School: Rs. 150 per month
Other studies: Rs. 200 per month

Students with orthopaedic disabilities who have 75 per cent or more disability are eligible for a special transport allowance of Rs. 100 per month.

Employment

The government has made provisions to extend the benefits of the Odisha Revised Pay Rule 2008 to the teaching staff of the special schools for persons with disabilities.[9]

Health & Rehabilitation

The District Rehabilitation Centre (DRC) Bhubaneswar has been renamed as the State Institute of Disability Rehabilitation Bhubaneswar and will function as the nodal centre for disability rehabilitation in the state and will be under the control of the Directorate for Welfare of Persons with Disabilities.[10]

[1]. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Odisha

[2]. http://www.orissadiary.com/CurrentNews.asp?id=39515

[3]. Women & Child Development Department, No. 1814 Cuttack Saturday September 22 2012/ Bhadra 31 1934, S.R.O No. 518/2012 Dated: 22 June 2012

[4]. Women & Child Development Department, No. 1881 Cuttack Friday, September 28th 2012/ Aswina 6 1934, No. 16140-DW-II-68/2012-WCD Dated: 15th September 2012

[5]. Women & Child Development Department, No. 1588 Cuttack Wednesday July 13 2011/ Asadha 22 1933, S.R.O. No. 537/ 2011 Dated: 30th June 2011

[6]. Women & Child Development Department, No. 982 Cuttack Thursday May17th 2012/ Baisakha 27 1934, No. 7871-DW-II-E-90/2010-WCD Dated: 4th May 2012

[7]. Women & Child Development Department, No. 112 Cuttack Monday, January 14th 20 13/ Pausa 24D 1934, No. 532/2013-WCD

[8]. Women & Child Development Department, No. 1426 Cuttack Friday July 25 2008/ Sravana 3 1930, No. 15776-HW-2-23/2008-WCD

[9]. Women & Child Development Department, No. 2189 Cuttack, Friday September 23 2011/ Aswina 1 1933 No. 15084-DW-I-(A)-40/2011-WCD

[10]. Women & Child Development Department, No. 1290 Cuttack Thursday June 2 2011/ Jaistha 12 1933, No. 10080-DW-H-E-412011-WCD

For more details visit https://cis-india.org/accessibility/blog/national-resource-kit-odisha-call-for-comments

National Resource Kit: The Nagaland Chapter (Call for Comments)

CLPR — 2013-11-13T09:58:56Z

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 Nagaland.

Note: The chapter is an early draft and will undergo subsequent modifications. We welcome comments and feedback from our readers.

Executive Summary

The Department of Social Security and Welfare is the wing under the State Government of Nagaland that is responsible for the schemes for persons with disabilities. The Nagaland Parents Association for the Disabled (NAPAD), an NGO, have alleged that the schemes introduced by the State Government are yet to be implemented within the State.

Quick Statistics

Capital: Kohima
Population: 1,980,602 (as per 2011 census)
People with disabilities: 26,499 (2001 census)
Literacy: 80.11%

Legal Provisions

There is no state specific legislation for persons with disabilities. The Government of Nagaland has implemented the following schemes:

Aids and Appliances
In February 2009, the Union Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment through its Assistance to Disabled Persons (ADIP) scheme allocated Rs. 37 lakhs to eight districts of Nagaland to provide aids and appliances to disabled persons. Those with a monthly family income under Rs. 6500 are provided appliances free of cost, while those up to Rs. 10000 receive a 50% subsidy.

Accessibility

Free bus travel on State Transport buses is provided for people with locomotor disabilities.
Visually impaired passengers with escorts also get free transport in State Transport Buses.

Education

Students with disabilities from Class I to IV are provided with Rs. 35 per month, while Class V to VIII are provided with Rs. 50 a month. This is provided under the State Government Scheme for Persons with Disabilities.
A grant is also provided to students with disabilities undergoing training in typing.

Employment

Reservation of Government Jobs: 5% of all positions listed in the Schedule to No. AR-3/Gen-9/97 is reserved for persons with disabilities. Of this 5%, 1% will be reserved for the categories of blindness, low vision, hearing impairment, loco motor disability and cerebral palsy (in this order).
The upper age limit for jobs in Public Service and Public Undertakings is relaxed by five years for persons with disabilities by Order no. AR-8/27/76 dated 10/8/1977.
By the recommendation of the Nagaland Department of Social Welfare, the National Handicapped Finance and Development Corporation sanctioned a loan of Rs. 50,000 each to 499 people (in 2012) to take up trades such as grocery selling, vegetable gardening/vending, raising pigs, poultry, tailoring, handicrafts, etc.

Health and Rehabilitation

There is no State Government scheme for health and rehabilitation. Under the Rashtriya Gramin Punarvas Yojana, scheme of Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, a District Fitment Centre catering to all persons with disabilities has been established in one district.

Social Protection

As of October 2012, 200 completely blind people were provided with financial assistance of Rs. 200 per month under the State Government Welfare Scheme for Persons with Disabilities.
Under the Indira Gandhi National Disability Pension Scheme, the department provides a monthly pension of Rs. 200 to persons with severe disabilities of 18 years and older, of which there were 1276 beneficiaries as of October 2012 in Nagaland
Physically disabled persons also receive Rs. 60 per month as a disability pension under the State Government Welfare Scheme for Persons with disabilities.
Aged persons with disabilities without relatives or family have access to a state-sponsored home.

Sources

For more details visit https://cis-india.org/accessibility/blog/the-nagaland-chapter

National Resource Kit: The Mizoram Chapter (Call for Comments)

CLPR — 2014-03-06T16:26:19Z

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 Mizoram.

Click to download the chapter in the revised format.

For more details visit https://cis-india.org/accessibility/blog/the-mizoram-chapter

National Resource Kit: The Manipur Chapter (Call for Comments)

CLPR — 2013-11-07T06:12:54Z

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 Manipur.

Executive Summary

In June 2013, the State Platform of Disabled People’s Organization in Manipur submitted a memorandum to the Social Welfare Minister and the Chief Minister demanding a proper budget allocation for persons with disability and an official State Policy on disability[1] and to ensure its proper implementation.

Quick Statistics
Capital:Imphal
Population (2011): 2,721,746
Number of people with disabilities: 28,380
Literacy (2011): 79.85%

Legal Provisions

The State Government of Manipur has not created or implemented any state specific legislation on persons with disabilities. The Government of Manipur has devised the following schemes:

Accessibility
Free bus travel facility is available for persons with disabilities on the State Transport buses.

Aids and Appliances
There are no state government schemes created by the Government of Manipur. The Central Government sponsored ADIP scheme has been implemented:

Assistance to Disabled Person Scheme (ADIP): The main objective of this Scheme is to assist persons with disabilities in procuring durable, sophisticated and scientifically manufactured, modern, standard aids and appliances that can promote their physical, social and psychological rehabilitation, by reducing the effects of disabilities and enhancing their economic potential. The quantum of assistance and income limit under the ADIP scheme is as follows:

Quantum of assistance and income limit under the ADIP scheme:
	Total Income	Amount of Assistance
1	Up to Rs. 6,500/- per month	Full cost of aid/appliance
2	Rs. 6,501/- to Rs. 10,000/- per month	50% of the cost of aid/appliance

The scheme is implemented through implementing agencies such as the NGOs, National Institutes under this Ministry and ALIMCO (a PSU).

Education
Various scholarships by the Government of Manipur are also available, as follows:
Pre-metric scholarships (typically for studies between Std I and Std X)

Scholarship Name	Scope of Study	Eligibility			Benefits
		Income (p.a.)	Social	Academic
Financial Assistance to dependent	Age 6 - 16 studying in recognized schools	Less than Rs 500/- p.m.			Rs 720/- p.a.
Scheme for students with disabilities	Grade 1 - 5	Less Than Rs 2,000/- p.m.	Disability	40%	Grade 1-2: Day Scholars: Rs 40/- p.m.; Hostellers: Rs 60/- p.m.; Grade 3-5: Day Scholars: Rs 40/- p.m.; Hostellers: Rs 80/- p.m.;

Secondary Education Scholarships (typically for studies between Std IX and Std XII)

	Scholarship Name	Scope of Study	Eligibility			Benefits
			Income (p.a.)	Social	Academic
1	Scheme for students with disabilities	Grade 9-10	Less than Rs 2,000/- p.m.	Disability	40%	Day Scholars: Rs 720/- p.a.; Hostellers: Rs 1,200/- p.a.; Only blind: Rs 300/- for 6 months

Higher Education Scholarships (typically for graduation and post-graduation studies)

	Scholarship Name	Scope of Study	Eligibility			Benefits
			Income (p.a.)	Social	Academic
1	Scheme for students with disabilities	Under Graduation	Less Than Rs 2,000/- p.m.	Disability	40%	1st and 2nd year - Day Scholars: Rs 90/- p.m.; Hostellers: Rs 130/- p.m.; Blind only: Rs 75/- p.m. for 6 months
2	Scheme for students with disabilities	Post Graduation	Less Than Rs 2,000/- p.m.	Disability	40%	Day Scholars: Rs 120/- p.m.; Hostellers: Rs 170/- p.m.; Blind only: Rs 100/- p.m. for 6 months
	Scheme for students with disabilities	Professional Courses (MBBS / LLB / B.Ed. etc.	Less Than Rs 24,000/- p.a.	Disability	40%	Day Scholars: Rs 120/- p.m.; Hostellers: Rs 170/- p.m.; Blind only: Rs 100/- p.m. for 6 months

Criteria:
A candidate applying for scholarships must be a Manipuri by birth or a person who has settled in the state for at least ten years. The person should be citizen of India and resident of Manipur at least for the last six years. The candidate should have secured at least 40% mark at the previous annual examination. No scholarship will be admissible if the combined monthly income of the parents / guardian of the candidate is more than Rs 2,000/-.

The Social Welfare Department of Manipur offers a scholarship of Rs 300 per annum to students with mental health problems.

The Social Welfare Department, Government of Manipur created a special employment exchange window for persons with disabilities in 1982 to ensure that there are employment opportunities for persons with disabilities.
3% of posts in the direct recruitment of Class - III and IV posts are reserved for persons with disabilities in the following rosters.
i) 1% for Visual Impaired in the 34th roster.
ii) 1% for Hearing Impaired in the 67th roster.
iii) 1% for Locomotors Disability in the 100th roster.[2]
The upper age limitfor applying to Government jobs was extended by the Government of Manipur by 10 years for persons with disabilities from all categories.
The State Government also provides financial assistance to persons with disabilities who are self-employed.
The Manipur Government also provides for unemployment allowances for candidates with disabilities who have been listed on the special employment exchange for more than two years but have not been able to find employment.

Health and Rehabilitation
Grameen Purnavas Yojna is a central government sponsored scheme and under this scheme, a rehabilitation centre has been set up in Manipur for persons with disabilities. Wheel chairs/tri-cycles have been distributed to members of the centre.

Social Protection
The Government of Manipur provides financial assistance to persons with disabilities, who have a family income of less than Rs. 60,000 per annum. The amount fixed as financial assistance varies each year depending on the availability of funds. Under this scheme, the Government aims to provide assistance to 1000 persons.

The Central Government sponsored Indira Gandhi Disability pension scheme has been implemented in 8 districts of Manipur and a total of Rs 13.4 lakhs has been received by the State Government for this scheme in 2010-11.

Sources

[1].(http://imphaltimes.com/disable-people-demand-state-policy/)

[2]. http://socialwelfaremanipur.nic.in/disable.htm

For more details visit https://cis-india.org/accessibility/blog/national-resource-kit-manipur-chapter-call-for-comments

National Resource Kit: The Maharashtra Chapter (Call for Comments)

anandi — 2013-11-07T06:14:58Z

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 Maharashtra.

Executive Summary

The state of Maharashtra is in the process of finalising the Maharashtra State Policy for the Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities. The draft is currently under discussion by the government and civil society organisations. The government of Maharashtra has issued notifications on providing assistive technologies to disabled employees in government and semi-government services.

State Profile

Capital: Mumbai
Population: 112,372,972
Population of Persons with Disabilities: 15,69,582 (2001 Census)
Literacy: 82.9%
HDI: 0.689 Rank: 12th (2005)[1]
Department: Department of Social Justice and Empowerment

Legal Provisions
The state of Maharashtra is in the process of putting together a state policy for persons with disabilities to implement the provisions in the three central laws. The draft of this document is presently being deliberated by the government and civil bodies for persons with disabilities.

The government has passed a few notifications for persons with disabilities. These are listed below:

Accessibility
The government of Maharashtra has published a list of supportive devices and assistive technologies that are required by blind and visually impaired employees in government and semi-government services to fulfil their duties. The order provides that the existing disabled employees as well as those who are to be appointed will have to be provided with these devices according to their needs.[2]

The government of Maharashtra has issued a notification to the effect that all employees with disabilities who are appointed to government and semi-government services will be provided with devices with assistive technology that enable them to carry out their designated tasks. The order provides that each disabled employee is eligible to purchase two devices worth a maximum of Rs. 50,000 per head and the charges borne by the employee for the purchase of the devices are to be reimbursed by the government within 15 days of the claim. The order further states that for devices worth more than Rs. 50,000 the department is responsible for purchasing the devices for the use of the employees.[3]

Education
The University of Mumbai has issued a circular approving the use of scribe and providing extra time to students with disabilities such as blindness, low vision and physical disability, and those suffering from conditions like dyslexia, dysgraphia, dyscalculia or equivalent conditions. The circular further provides that the principals of colleges and heads of institutes will be responsible for assisting the students in locating scribes and providing permission letters.[4]

[1]. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maharashtra

[2]. Social Justice and Special Support Department Government Decision Date: Court Order- 2011/C.No-4/Amendment – 3 Dated: 3rd June 2011

[3]. Social Justice and Special Services Department Government Circular No. Court Order – 2011/C No – 4/Amend Dated: 20th August 2011

[4]. No. Exam/COE/Benefit/102 of 2012 31st March, 2012

For more details visit https://cis-india.org/accessibility/blog/national-resource-kit-maharashtra-chapter-call-for-comments