{"id":97419,"date":"2017-05-31T09:09:26","date_gmt":"2017-05-31T09:09:26","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/punjabpost.in\/welcome\/?p=97419"},"modified":"2017-05-31T09:09:26","modified_gmt":"2017-05-31T09:09:26","slug":"empowering-persons-disabilities","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/punjabpost.in\/welcome\/97419","title":{"rendered":"Empowering persons with Disabilities"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \"Handicap\"The \u00a0change in the name of the Department of \u00a0Disability Affairs to the Department of \u00a0Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities \u00a0soon after the NDA assumed power was to send the message \u00a0that \u00a0\u00a0\u2018empowerment\u2019 \u00a0would be the \u00a0key to the policies and programmes \u00a0for the disabled and that a separate department \u00a0meant \u00a0this sector \u00a0would receive focused attention it \u00a0deserved . A numbers of campaigns and schemes \u00a0have been launched during the last 2 to 3 year \u00a0towards \u00a0creating \u00a0disabled friendly environment in every sphere \u00a0whether it is accessibility , education , providing \u00a0assistive aides and appliance \u00a0or empowering persons with disabilities \u00a0through \u00a0skills \u00a0and providing employment.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u201cAccessibility\u201d is one of the most important factors for making the disabled \u00a0move about \u00a0without depending on others .\u00a0 In order \u00a0to enable\u00a0\u00a0persons with disabilities to gain universal access and independent living the government \u00a0launched \u00a0its ambitious \u00a0\u201cAccessible India Campaign\u201d (Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan) which seeks to make at least 50 percent of all government buildings in the national capital and all state capitals \u201cfully accessible\u201d for the disabled by July next year . Similar deadlines were set to make airports and railway stations accessible to the disabled.50 cities have been selected as part of this Campaign.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Eighteen organizations have been empanelled \u00a0as Access Auditors .Access Audit of 1092 buildings out of 1098 building in 31 cities is complete. In addition to this, work orders for 410 buildings in 13 more cities were issued last year in June and \u00a0access Audit of 400 buildings also has been \u00a0completed.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a050 Accessibility Clubs in IITs, IIMs and other institutes have been set up for encouraging innovation and investment in Accessibility Solutions.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u201cSugamaya Pustakalaya\u201d<\/strong>\u00a0 an online platform that makes accessible content available to print-disabled people was also launched last year. The library houses publications across diverse subjects and languages and multiple accessible formats.Books are available in Accessible formats for people with visual impairment and other print disabilities. Over 2 lakhs books in diverse languages. Integrating libraries across India and the Globe, including the largest international library, \u2018Bookshare\u2019.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A lot of emphasis was laid on education of the\u00a0students suffering from disabilities.As many as 2,747 Students with Disabilities (SwD) were benefited so far under the Pre-Matric Scholarship scheme, which was launched during 2014-15. The scheme provides for financial assistance to the SwDs studying 9th and 10th classes.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A total of 5,267 Students with Disabilities have \u00a0\u00a0benefited so far from the\u00a0Post-Matric scholarship scheme, launched during 2014-15. Under the scheme\u00a0financial assistance\u00a0is provided to the SwDs for studying in class XI to Post Graduation. A total of 44 SwDs\u00a0benefitted\u00a0under the Scheme of Scholarship for Top Class Education, under which tend financial assistance\u00a0is extended to the SwDs for taking up \u00a0Post Graduate courses in the institutes of excellence.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Under the National Fellowship for Persons with Disability (NFPwD), launched in 2012-13, 854 SwDs have so benefitted\u00a0in\u00a0pursuing M.Phil and Ph.D.\u00a0 Seven students received financial support under the National Overseas Scholarship scheme launched during 2014-15.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Free Coaching\u00a0for the economically disadvantaged students with disabilities\u00a0to enable them to appear in competitive examinations for appropriate job in government, public and private sectors has also been envisaged.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0In this regard, the government\u00a0is also providing incentives to private sector establishments to encourage employment of PwDs in the corporate sector. Under the scheme, payment of employer’s contribution towards the Employees Provident Fund organization and the Employees State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) for the first three years, is made by the Central Government in respect of persons with disability appointed in private sector to a post carrying monthly emoluments up to Rs.25,000.\u00a0 So far 3,184 Persons with Disabilities have gained\u00a0from this initiative.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Skilling India\u00a0is\u00a0one of the priority areas of the government, so also\u00a0for persons with disabilities. As many as 62,232 Persons with Disabilities have been helped under\u00a0the National Action Plan for Skill Development of PwDs scheme launched in 2015. Providing vocational training and creating\u00a0employment opportunities are aimed at improving quality of life of the persons with disabilities.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Assisting the needy disabled persons in procuring durable, sophisticated, modern and standard aids and appliances can reduce impact of disability and at the same time promote their rehabilitation and enhance their economic potential.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Rs.356.73 crore were\u00a0released\/utilized during last two years and the current year benefiting 5.87 lakh beneficiaries through organizing 4,354 camps for distribution of assistive aides and appliances. Nearly 200 mega camps\/special camps were organized covering 27 states for the assistive devices at the cost of about Rs.169.56 crore benefiting nearly 2.10 lakh Divyangjan. Aids and assistive devices costing Rs.108.70 crore were also provided to 1.83 lakh Divyang children with Special Needs (DCWSN) during 2,734 camps under ADIP-Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan in the primary schools all over the country.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Cochlear Implant program was launched in the country On ‘World Disability Day’ in 2014 following empanelment of 140 hospitals both government and private for Cochlear Implant surgery. Another initiative\u00a0is the State Spinal Injury Centre scheme, which is in operation from 31st of March 2015. It envisages, dedicated 12 Bed Ward in government hospitals with medical and paramedical staff with basic infrastructure.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0As per the 2011 Census, there \u00a0\u00a0about 50 lakh people suffering from hearing handicap. The main objective behind the setting up\u00a0of the Indian Sign Language Research and Training Centre (ISLRTC) is to develop manpower for using, teaching and conducting research in Indian Sign Language.The first batch of Diploma Course in Indian Sign Language Interpretation commenced from 28.10.2016 with intake capacity of 15 students. The second batch started from\u00a014th of December 2016. Efforts are being made to prepare the sign language dictionary of about 6,000 words. There is a also plan to prepare a directory of Indian Sign Language interpreters in India.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0District Disability Rehabilitation Centres (DDRC) are set up under SIPDA for providing comprehensive services to the persons with disabilities at the grass-root level and for facilitating creation of the infrastructure and capacity building at the district level for awareness generation, rehabilitation and training of rehabilitation professionals. Grants-in-aid of Rs.1,78,61,199 has been released for \u00a044 District Disability Rehabilitation Centres in the current year as on 9th of January 2017.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The \u00a0Ministry of \u00a0Social Justice and Empowerment confers National Awards on individuals, institutions, states\/districts for their outstanding achievements or work done towards empowerment of Persons with Disabilities on the occasion of the International Day for disabled persons (3rd December). As many as 89 lakh citizens have benefitted.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 In a significant move towards empowerment of the disabled the Parliament passed the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Bill, 2016 in\u00a0the winter Session last year. This Act replaces the\u00a0existing Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act, 1995. In\u00a0the new Act, the\u00a0categories of disabilities have been increased from existing 7 to 21.\u00a0 The Act also provides for increasing reservation quota \u00a0\u00a0from 3 per cent to 4 percent in government jobs.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Hopefully,\u00a0the rights based legislation with more Rights and Entitlements and strong monitoring agencies at the National and State Levels\u00a0and the various schemes and campaigns \u00a0launched by the government will \u00a0go a long way in achieving \u00a0empowerment \u00a0and mainstreaming of the \u00a0Persons with Disabilities in the society.<\/p>\n

V. Mohan Rao<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The \u00a0change in the name of the Department of \u00a0Disability Affairs to the Department of \u00a0Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities \u00a0soon after the NDA assumed power was to send the message \u00a0that \u00a0\u00a0\u2018empowerment\u2019 \u00a0would be the \u00a0key to the policies and programmes \u00a0for the disabled and that a separate department \u00a0meant \u00a0this sector \u00a0would …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":29357,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[26,11],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-97419","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","","category-articles","category-english"],"yoast_head":"\nEmpowering persons with Disabilities | Punjab Post<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, 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