Welfare Schemes
Deen Dayal Rehabilitation Scheme
Scheme To Promote Voluntary Action For Persons With Disabilities (Deen Dayal Rehabilitation Scheme)
The Scheme of the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, Government of India, simplifies and facilitates procedure for easy access to govt. support for NGOs with the aim to widen the scope and range of programmes. It will address the unmet needs of the over 95% Indian citizens with disabilities who have not had access to services so far.
The objectives of the scheme:
· To ensure effective implementation of the Act.
· To encourage voluntary action.
· To create enabling environment.
· To ensure equal opportunities, equity and social justice to persons with disabilities.
· To empower persons with disabilities.
· To implement outreach and comprehensive Community-Based Rehabilitation programmes in urban and rural environments.
· To enhance education opportunities at all level and in all forms.
· To enlarge the scope of vocational and professional opportunities, income generation and gainful occupations.
· To support all such measures as may be necessary for promoting formal as well as non-formal employment and placement opportunities.
· To support people with disabilities in projects which are environment friendly and Eco promotive.
· To support effort to ensure protection of human, civil and consumer rights to persons with disabilities.
· To support legal literacy, including legal counselling, legal aid and analysis and evaluation of existing laws.
· To support the development publication and dissemination of information documentation and training materials.
· To support the conduct of surveys and other forms of epidemiological studies.
· To support (a) construction and maintenance of buildings, (b) furniture and fixtures, and (c) installation and maintenance of machinery and equipment.
· To support and facilitate the availability of appropriate housing, homes and hostel facilities.
· To establish and support facilities for sport, recreation, leisure-time activities, excursions, creative and performing arts, cultural and socially inclusive activities.
· To promote research in various development areas, innovative strategies, assistive devices and enabling technologies and support production of such devices ensuring quality control.
· To support manpower development activities to train required personnel at different levels for all programmes/projects/activities for persons with disabilities.
· To set up well equipped resource centers at different levels.
· To promote and support the development of self-help groups, parent organisations and independent living.
· To encourage coordination, cooperation and networking and multisectoral linkages.
· To support such other measures, which may meet the needs of the persons with disability and fulfill the obligations as prescribed in the Disability Act of 1995.
ELIGIBLE NGOS who opt for financial assistance must submit the proposals through State Govt. State Govt. will scrutiny the proposals and as per feasibility recommend for financial assistance. The present around 90 special schools / VTCs are assistance under Central Grant-in-Aid.
Scheme of National Scholarships for Persons with Disabilities
Under the Scheme of National Scholarships for Persons with Disabilities, every year 500 new scholarships are awarded for pursuing post matric professional and technical courses of duration more than one year. However, in respect of students with cerebral palsy, mental retardation, multiple disabilities and profound or severe hearing impairment, scholarship are awarded for pursuing studies from IX Std. onwards. Advertisements inviting applications for scholarships are given in leading national/regional newspapers in the month of June and also placed on the website of the Ministry. State Government/ UT Administrations are also requested to give wide publicity to the scheme. Students with 40% or more disability whose monthly family income does not exceed Rs. 15,000/-are eligible for scholarship. A scholarship of Rs. 700/- per month to day scholars and Rs. 1,000/- per month to hostellers is provided to the students pursuing Graduate and Post Graduate level technical or professional courses. A scholarship or Rs. 400/- per month to day scholars and Rs. 700/- per month to hostellers is provided for pursuing diploma and certificate level professional courses. In addition to the scholarship, the students are reimbursed the course fee subject to a ceiling of Rs. 10,000/- per year. Financial assistance under the scheme is also given for computer with editing software for blind/ deaf graduate and postgraduate students pursuing professional courses and for support access software for cerebral palsied students.
For further information :http://www.socialjustice.nic.in/nsawardadv0809.php
Grant-in-Aid Schemes of the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment
The different Grant-in-Aid schemes offered are:
Assistance to Voluntary Organizations for Disabled
The scheme was started with a view to provide assistance to voluntary organizations working in the field of handicapped welfare. It is a comprehensive scheme to cover different areas of rehabilitation - physical, psychological, social and economic. Financial support is given up to the extent of 90 per cent of the total project cost (up to 95 per cent for the rural areas), for recurring items like staff salary, maintenance charges, contingencies and non-recurring items like construction of the building, Rs. 5 lakh. Financial assistance is given for such projects as vocational training centers, special schools, counseling centers, hostels, training centers for personnel, placement services, etc.
Assistance to Disabled Persons for Purchase/Fitting of Aids/Appliances
The main objective of the scheme is to assist needy physically handicapped persons in procuring durable, sophisticated and scientifically manufactured aids and appliances that promote their physical, social and psychological rehabilitation. The scheme is implemented through centers run by the companies registered under Companies Act, registered societies, trusts or any other institutions recognized by the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment for the purpose. A large number of governmental and non-governmental agencies are engaged for the implementation of the scheme. Aids and appliances such as wheelchairs, crutches, calipers, hearing aid, Braille slates, etc. are given to different categories of disabled persons. Indian citizens possessing a certificate from a registered medical practitioner can benefit under the scheme. Disabled persons in need of aids and appliances are given travel allowance subject to a limit of Rs. 150/- for visit to implementing agencies' center. The board and lodging expenses at the rate of Rs. 10 per day subject to Rs. 150/- per beneficiary are also admissible in cases where the income of such persons is up to Rs. 1200/- per month. According to the scheme, aids and appliances up to the value of Rs. 3600/- are distributed to the disabled persons free of cost if the monthly income of the disabled is up to Rs. 1200/- and at 50 per cent of the cost if it is between R. 1201/- and Rs. 2500/-
Assistance to Voluntary Organizations for the Rehabilitation of Leprosy-Cured Persons
India has a large population of leprosy-affected persons, the figure is estimated to be 4.50 lakh. The scheme is designed to provide financial assistance to NGOs in a phased manner for the rehabilitation of leprosy-cured persons both in rural and urban areas. Assistance is given up to 90 per cent of the project cost. Programs like awareness generation, early intervention, educational and vocational training, economic rehabilitation, social integration, etc. are undertaken under the scheme.
Assistance to Organizations for Persons with Cerebral Palsy and Mental Retardation
Under the scheme, assistance is given to NGOs up to the extent of 100 per cent for running training courses for teachers in the area of cerebral palsy and mental retardation. Both recurring and non-recurring items are considered for sanction.
Establishment and Development of Special Schools
The scheme envisages assistance to the NGOs up to the extent of 90 per cent for establishment and upgradation of special schools in the four major disability areas - orthopedic, hearing and speech, visual and mentally retarded. Priority under the scheme is given for setting up of schools in districts where there is no special school at present. Both recurring and non-recurring expenditure is supported.
Science and Technology Development Projects in Mission Mode
With a view to provide suitable and cost-effective aids and appliances through the application of technology and also to improve the mobility, employment opportunities and integration of the disabled in the mainstream, the scheme of Science and Technology (S&T) - Project in Mission Mode was launched in 1988.
Science and Technology Projects in Mission Mode represent a new approach aimed at ensuring that emerging inter-disciplinary efforts to have the potential meet large scale societal/national needs, and can fulfil their potential in a time-targeted manner. The emphasis is on an end-to-end approach covering Research and Development as well as technological, financial, administrative and management aspects. These projects concentrate on new scientific inputs, generation of new technologies and guiding these to large-scale use.
The objectives of such projects, are to coordinate, fund and direct application of technology for development and utilization of :
suitable and cost effective aids and appliances emphasis on education and skill development leading to enhancement of opportunities for employment easier living and integration in society
The Government of India had launched for the first five years a coordinated program for developing aids and appliances for persons with disability. The financial assistance is provided on a 100 per cent basis.
Some interesting and innovative products, for the use of persons with disabilities, have been developed by organizations funded under this scheme. These are :
Speech Synthesiser Inter pointing Braille writing frame Close Circuit TV with magnification facility Photo-voltaic charger Safety devices for agricultural machinery Feeding aids for children with cerebral palsy Multifunctional wheel-chair Electronic guide stick Telefilm for training of parents of mentally retarded Video films on safe use of agricultural machinery Microprocessor based braille embosser
Source: Disability India Network
