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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 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 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

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

anandi — 2013-11-07T06:16:40Z

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 Goa.

The chapter is an early draft and is in the process of being reviewed and updated. Comments and feedback are welcome.

Executive Summary

Goa has framed the Goa Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Rules 1997 and has formulated the state policy and plan of action for Differently Abled persons to implement the provisions under the three central laws.

The state policy makes provisions for barrier free access. The state has issued three notifications for education, four notifications for employment and one notification each for health and rehabilitation, social protection and transport.

Legal Provisions
Goa has framed the Goa Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Rules 1997 and has formulated the state policy and plan of action for Differently Abled persons to implement the provisions under the three central laws:

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

The government has constituted the State Coordination Committee under the chairmanship of the Minister of Social Welfare and the State Executive Committee under the chairmanship of the Secretary – Social Welfare for monitoring and implementation of the various provisions of the Persons with Disabilities Act.

Click to download the full chapter here

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

National Resource Kit: The Andhra Chapter (Revised)

anandi — 2014-02-12T05:21:41Z

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

For more details visit https://cis-india.org/accessibility/blog/national-resource-kit-andhra-pradesh-revised

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

anandi — 2014-01-08T07:01:33Z

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 Gujarat.

Executive Summary

The Department of Social Justice and Empowerment is responsible for the welfare of persons with disabilities in Gujarat. The state has an estimated population of 1,045,465[1] persons with disabilities in a total population of 60,439,692[2]people. Gujarat has issued two resolutions under General Entitlements, four schemes under Women & Children with Disabilities, three schemes under Education, one resolution under Skill Development & Employment and seven schemes under Social Security, Health, and Rehabilitation & Recreation.

General Entitlements

The office of the police commissioner of Surat has circulated guidelines within the department for handling persons with mental illness moving unescorted in public places.[3] The guidelines require that:

The Police Inspector or senior Police Sub-inspector should directly deal with the person with mental illness.
The details of the person should be entered in the records of the police station and a report made.
The person with mental illness should be produced in the court of respective judicial magistrate with the report on the same day.
If the person is ordered to be admitted in a mental hospital by the judicial magistrate, the person should be admitted to the facility immediately.
In case of persons with mental illness who show excited or violent behaviour, the above process should be pursued with the help of the Forensic Science Department.
Women police officers should be present mandatorily in cases where women with mental illness are involved.

The government has passed a resolution mandating the use of terms like disability and disabled while referring to persons with disabilities instead of terms like handicapped, physical handicap in all its official communication.[4]

Sr. No.	Notification No.	Details
1	The Office of the Police Commissioner, Surat No. RB/Mentally Ill/4343/2010 Dated: 15.03.2010	Guidelines to police while handling persons with mental illness
2	Social Justice and Empowerment Department, Secretariat, Gandhi Nagar Resolution No. apg/102010/337/chh-1 Dated: 30. 12. 2010	Guidelines on official references to persons with disabilities

Women and Children with Disabilities

The government of Gujarat provides assistance of Rs. 40,000 to widowed women with disabilities towards construction of a pukka house (brick, stone and cement house with terrace).[5] This assistance is available once only to women in the age group of 18 to 60 years. The upper limit of the grant is Rs. 50,000 for rural areas and Rs. 70,000 for urban areas. The government also provides grants to widowed women with disabilities in the categories of scheduled caste[6] and scheduled tribe separately.

Widowed women with disabilities fulfilling the following conditions are eligible to apply:

Should have a minimum of 40 per cent disability.
Should possess a plot of land for constructing the house.
Should have resided for at least five years in the area where the house is to be constructed.
Should not be in receipt of benefit under any other housing scheme and should give a written undertaking regarding the same.
Should submit a certificate from a competent authority showing the date of death of her husband.
Should possess a disability certificate and a disability identity card.

The Department of Panchayats and Rural Housing provides assistance for construction of residential units to widowed women with disabilities in rural Gujarat.[8] Under this scheme, assistance of Rs. 54,500 is provided to widowed women with disabilities. The grant also covers labour charges for construction of the residential unit.

Sr. No.	Notification No.	Details
1	Social Justice and Empowerment Department, Sachivalay, Gandhi Nagar Resolution No. APG/102007/N.B.21/Chh-1 Dated: 07. 07. 2008	Grant for disabled widows for construction of house
2	Social Justice and Empowerment Department, Sachivalay, Gandhi Nagar Resolution No. APG/102007/N.B.22/Chh 1 Dated: 31. 03. 2008	Grant for disabled widows belonging to scheduled caste for construction of house
3	Social Justice and Empowerment Department, Sachivalay, Gandhi Nagar Resolution No. APG/102007/N.B.20/Chh 1 Dated: 31. 03. 2008	Grant for disabled widows belonging to scheduled tribe for construction of house
4	Department of Panchayats and Rural Housing, Secretariat, Gandhi Nagar Resolution No. prch/102009/819/1 Dated: 30. 06. 2011	Grant for disabled widows for construction of residential unit

Education

As the allowance provided by the central Integrated Education for the Disabled in Secondary Stage (IEDSS) scheme only covers students with disabilities studying in government secondary schools, the government of Gujarat provides additional scholarship for SC students with disabilities studying in Class IX and Class X in private unaided recognised schools. Students are eligible for allowances as listed below:

Category of Scholarship	Amount
Reader allowance for visually impaired students	Rs. 160 per month
Transport allowance (applicable for day scholars)	Rs. 160 per month
Escort allowance for day scholars with 80 per cent or more disabilities	Rs. 160 per month
Helper allowance (any employee of the hostel willing to help students with 80 per cent or more orthopaedic disabilities)	Rs. 160 per month
Coaching allowance for students with mental disabilities and mental health issues	Rs. 240 per month

Applicants should fulfil the following requirements:

Should present the disability certificate from the competent medical authority of the state government.

The total family income of parents or guardians should not exceed Rs. 2,00,000 per annum.

The scholarship will be paid for a period of 10 months in an academic year.

Students with disabilities belonging to scheduled caste[10] or schedule tribe[11] whose parents / guardians have a maximum annual income of Rs. 50,000 are eligible to receive scholarship from the government of Gujarat.

Sr. No.	Notification No.	Details
1	Social Justice and Empowerment Department, Sachivalay, Gandhi Nagar Resolution No. PMS/13/2012/405526/G Dated: 18. 06. 2013	Scholarship for disabled students in SC category in private unaided schools
2	Social Justice and Empowerment Department, Sachivalay, Gandhi Nagar Resolution No. APG/102007/N.B.9/Chh 1 Dated: 31. 03. 2008.	Scholarship to disabled students in SC category
3	Social Justice and Empowerment Department, Sachivalay, Gandhi Nagar Resolution No. APG/102007/N.B.10/Chh 1 Dated: 31. 03. 2008	Scholarship to disabled students in ST category

Skill Development & Employment

The government of Gujarat has passed a resolution that a 100 number roster will be maintained to provide three per cent reservation for persons with disabilities in direct recruitment. The vacancies of numbers 34, 68 and 100 will be reserved for persons with disabilities.

Sr. No.	Notification No.	Details
1	Social Justice and Empowerment Department, Sachivalay, Gandhi Nagar. Circular No. PVT/102012/138/ROSTER Dated: 18. 06. 2012.	Roster point system for direct recruitment to govt employment

Social Security, Health, Rehabilitation and Recreation

The government provides financial assistance to persons with severe disabilities (80 per cent or more disability) jointly under the Sant Surdas Scheme of the state government and the central Indira Gandhi National Disability Pension Scheme.[13]

Under these schemes, persons with severe disabilities in the age group of zero to 17 years are eligible to receive assistance of Rs. 200 per month. Persons with severe disabilities in the age group of 18 to 64 years are eligible to receive assistance of Rs. 400 per month (Rs. 200 under the state scheme and Rs. 200 under the central scheme).

Persons with severe disabilities who are residents of Gujarat and who are below poverty line are eligible for assistance under this scheme.

Persons with disabilities living below poverty line and who are above 64 years of age are eligible to receive old age pension under the Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme.[14]

The government of Gujarat provides persons with disabilities receiving pension under the Sant Surdas Scheme, Indira Gandhi National Disability Pension Scheme and Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme the option of receiving their pension in their bank accounts, post office accounts or on their doorstep through money orders.[15] Beneficiaries are required to indicate their preferred option to the payment officer in the prescribed format.

The government of Gujarat provides financial assistance of Rs. 4000 to state government employees with orthopaedic disabilities towards purchasing of foldable wheelchair.[16] This assistance is provided once to all employees with disabilities.

Persons with disabilities whose income is less than Rs. 25,000 per annum and who fall in the age group of five to 50 years are eligible for assistance from the government for purchase and fitting of aids and appliances for rehabilitation, and for purchase of educationally and vocationally useful equipment.[17]

This assistance is provided separately to persons with disabilities belonging to the scheduled caste[18] and scheduled tribe[19] categories.

Sr. No.	Notification No.	Details
1	Social Justice and Empowerment Department, Sachivalay, Gandhi Nagar Resolution NO. APG/102009/No. 9 to 14/Chh-1 Dated: 13. 08. 2008	Financial assistance to the severely disabled
	Social Justice and Empowerment Department, Secretariat, Gandhi Nagar Circular No. apg/102009/216(1)/chh-1 Dated: 31. 07. 2009	Financial assistance to disabled senior citizens
	Social Justice and Empowerment Department, Sachivalay, Gandhi Nagar Resolution No. APG-102008-37-Chh.1 Dated: 13. 08. 2008	Assistance to govt employees for purchase of folding wheelchair
	Social Justice and Empowerment Department, Sachivalay, Gandhi Nagar Resolution No. APG/102009/216/Chh.1 Dated: 03. 11. 2009	Option of receiving pension through money order
	Social Justice and Empowerment Department, Sachivalay, Gandhi Nagar Resolution No. APG/102007/N.B.6/Chh.1 Dated: 31. 03. 2008	Assistance for purchase and fitting of aids and appliances
	Social Justice and Empowerment Department, Sachivalay, Gandhi Nagar Resolution No. APG/102007/N.B.7/Chh.1 Dated: 31. 03. 2008	Assistance for purchase and fitting of aids and appliances to persons belonging to SC category
	Social Justice and Empowerment Department, Sachivalay, Gandhi Nagar Resolution No. APG/102007/N.B.8/Chh.1 Dated: 31. 03. 2008	Assistance for purchase and fitting of aids and appliances to persons belonging to ST category

Accessibility

The government of Gujarat is yet to implement schemes and policies towards accessibility.

Certification

The Social Security Department under the Social Justice and Empowerment Department issues disability identity cards for persons with disabilities with an income of not more than Rs. 2,50,000 per annum. Applicants should submit proof of income issued by the Namlatdar / Taluka Development Officer and two passport size photographs along with the application.[20]

Employees with disabilities serving with the government or with government aided organisations may submit certificate of income issued by the state / central government offices, government aided organisations and, boards and corporations functioning under the governments or panchayats as proof of income.

Documents such as ration card, true copy of electricity bill, municipal tax bill or receipt of house tax from the gram Panchayat, driving licence or voter ID card may be presented as proof of residence.

Sr. No.	Notification No.	Details
1	Department of Social Justice and Empowerment, Secretariat, Gandhi Nagar Resolution No. apg/102007/1077/chh-1 Dated: 12. 05. 2008	Disability identity cards

Schemes & Grants for Organisations & Individuals for Disabilities

There are no specific grants or schemes for organisations or individuals operating in the field of disabilities.

Disability Authorities

Gujarat has two authorities responsible for the welfare of persons with disabilities:

Social Justice and Empowerment Department
Commissioner for Disabilities.

[1]. http://www.socialjustice.nic.in/statewisedisabled.php.

[2]. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gujarat.

[3]. The Office of the Police Commissioner, Surat, No. RB/Mentally Ill/4343/2010 Dated: 15. 03. 2010.

[4]. Social Justice and Empowerment Department, Secretariat, Gandhi Nagar Resolution No. apg/102010/337/chh-1 Dated: 30. 12. 2010.

[5]. Social Justice and Empowerment Department, Sachivalay, Gandhi Nagar Resolution No. APG/102007/N.B.21/Chh-1 Dated: 07. 07. 2008.

[6]. Social Justice and Empowerment Department, Sachivalay, Gandhi Nagar Resolution No. APG/102007/N.B.22/Chh 1 Dated: 31. 03. 2008.

[7]. Social Justice and Empowerment Department, Sachivalay, Gandhi Nagar Resolution No. APG/102007/N.B.20/Chh 1 Dated: 31. 03. 2008.

[8]. Department of Panchayats and Rural Housing, Secretariat, Gandhi Nagar. Resolution No. prch/102009/819/1 Dated: 30. 06. 2011.

[9]. Social Justice and Empowerment Department, Sachivalay, Gandhi Nagar. Resolution No. PMS/13/2012/405526/G Dated: 18. 06. 2013.

[10]. Social Justice and Empowerment Department, Sachivalay, Gandhi Nagar. Resolution No. APG/102007/N.B.9/Chh 1 Dated: 31. 03. 2008.

[11]. Social Justice and Empowerment Department, Sachivalay, Gandhi Nagar. Resolution No. APG/102007/N.B.10/Chh 1 Dated: 31. 03. 2008.

[12]. Social Justice and Empowerment Department, Sachivalay, Gandhi Nagar. Circular No. PVT/102012/138/ROSTER Dated: 18. 06. 2012.

[13]. Social Justice and Empowerment Department, Sachivalay, Gandhi Nagar. Resolution NO. APG/102009/No. 9 to 14/Chh-1 Dated: 13. 08. 2008.

[14]. Social Justice and Empowerment Department, Secretariat, Gandhi Nagar. Circular No. apg/102009/216(1)/chh-1 Dated: 31. 07. 2009.

[15]. Social Justice and Empowerment Department, Sachivalay, Gandhi Nagar. Resolution No. APG/102009/216/Chh.1 Dated: 03. 11. 2009.

[16]. Social Justice and Empowerment Department, Sachivalay, Gandhi Nagar. Resolution No. APG-102008-37-Chh.1 Dated: 13. 08. 2008.

[17]. Social Justice and Empowerment Department, Sachivalay, Gandhi Nagar. Resolution No. APG/102007/N.B.6/Chh.1 Dated: 31. 03. 2008.

[18]. Social Justice and Empowerment Department, Sachivalay, Gandhi Nagar. Resolution No. APG/102007/N.B.7/Chh.1 Dated: 31. 03. 2008.

[19]. Social Justice and Empowerment Department, Sachivalay, Gandhi Nagar. Resolution No. APG/102007/N.B.8/Chh.1 Dated: 31. 03. 2008.

[20]. Department of Social Justice and Empowerment, Secretariat, Gandhi Nagar. Resolution No. apg/102007/1077/chh-1 Dated: 12. 05. 2008.

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

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

Creating a National Resource Kit for Persons with Disabilities: An Introduction

anandi — 2013-03-18T05:58:04Z

The Centre for Internet & Society is engaged in a two-and-a-half year project starting from August 2012 to create a national resource kit of state-wise laws, policies and programmes on issues relating to persons with disabilities in India. This project is supported by the Hans Foundation. The Resource Kit will be brought out in both English and Hindi and disseminated to policy makers from panchayat to ministry levels throughout India.

CIS hopes that this resource kit will immensely benefit the disabled community in India by providing them with a ready reference on the facilities given by the government.

More often than not a facility isn’t enjoyed by the public as no one knows about its existence. It becomes important then to make it accessible and give it exposure. The National Resource Kit of Laws, Policies and Programmes for Persons with Disabilities will fill this gap of lack of comprehensive information in this field.

The rights of persons with disabilities have for long been a topic of international discussion in various forums. It is essential to not just promote, protect and ensure the full and equal enjoyment of all human rights of persons with disabilities but also promote respect for their dignity. Making legal provisions for the rights of persons with disabilities is not only a mechanism that ensures that they have access to human rights but also a tool that enables them to contribute to the growth of their nation by providing them with the facilities that aid them in overcoming their challenges and enable them to lead fruitful lives.

To provide persons with disabilities in India equal opportunity for liberty, equality and dignity on par with all citizens, India has enacted three disability laws:

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

India is now in the process of drafting a new law on the rights of persons with disabilities that aims to fill the gaps in the earlier laws through a deeper understanding of the real issues faced by them and providing solutions and opportunities on par with international standards.

Despite the existing legal provisions, the populace that continues to struggle with consuming issues like overpopulation, poverty, unemployment and lack of resources, often tend to neglect issues which concern persons with disabilities. An overwhelming public opinion that considers persons with disabilities to be incapable of making meaningful contribution to the society due to their disability has led to the exclusion of persons with disabilities from mainstream society.

One of the major reasons for this exclusion and neglect is the lack of awareness about the various facilities being extended by the government to persons with disabilities targeted at enabling them to overcome their challenges. Generating awareness by providing them with information that will help them gain access to education, vocational skills, employment training and opportunities and healthcare is a vital step in ensuring that the legal rights of persons with disabilities are enabled for them.

For more details visit https://cis-india.org/accessibility/creating-a-national-resource-kit-for-persons-with-disabilities