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The Persons with disabilities (Equal opportunities, Protection of rights and Full participation) Act, 1995 is a comprehensive legislation dealing with various aspects of rehabilitation of persons with disabilities. The implementation of the Act requires a multisectoral collaborative approach of the related Ministries/Departments of the Central Government, the State Governments and other appropriate authorities. As a result of various steps taken, the facilities for Persons with disabilities are as follows:
Employment & Education
1) There is a provision of 3% reservation in the vacancies for persons with disabilities in identified posts in the Central and State Government organisations.
2) State Governments have a provision for preferential allotment of land for houses, setting up of business etc.
3) There is a provision for providing 3% reservation of seats for Persons with Disabilities in Government/Government aided education institutions.
4) Under Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA), 15.93 lakh children with disabilities of elementary school-going age group were identified in the country in 2004-05 of whom 10.77 lakh children have been enrolled in elementary schools.
5) Under the scheme for the Integrated Education of the Disabled Children (IEDC), about 2 lakh disabled children were brought under the inclusive education.
6) The Government has notified guidelines for preparation of education scheme for persons with disabilities providing for transport facilities, supply of books, grant of scholarship, suitable modification in the curriculum and the examination system, etc. by the Central Ministries, organisations and autonomous bodies under their control. State Governments have also been requested for adoption of these guidelines.
7) The Government provides 250 scholarships to persons with disabilities for pursuing higher and technical education.
8) The Government supports more than 350 special schools and 140 vocational training centers for imparting special education and vocational training to the mentally challenged, hearing and speech impaired and visually challenged.
9) The Governments provides aids and appliances free of cost to the poor and needy disabled persons.
10) The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has taken a number of steps to provide facilities to the disabled children in examinations. The facilities inter-alia include(a) studying one compulsory language as against two (b) alternate questions in lieu of questions requiring special skills based on visual inputs (c) use an amanuensis during the examinations (d) additional one hour for each paper of external examination.
Barrier free facilities to persons with disabilities
Ø Model Building bye-laws, containing provisions for barrier-free built environment has been circulated to all the State Governments and Union Territories for adoption.
Ø Railways have incorporated accessible features at the major railway stations and have provided accessible rail compartments in most of the Mail/Express Trains.
Social Security
Ø Reservation of 3% for persons with disabilities in all the poverty alleviation schemes.
Ø Many of the States and Union Territories provide unemployment allowance to persons with disabilities.
Ø Most of the States and UTs are providing disability pensions to persons with disabilities.
Ø Transport allowance for disabled employees at the double rate as available to other employees is extended by the States/UTs.
Ø Preferential allotment of STD/Handicapped PCO telephone booths to persons with disabilities.
Ø Concessional telephone connections to blind persons
Ø Income Tax concession to persons with disabilities.
Ø Income tax concession to the assesses having disabled dependent for medical treatment.
Ø Custom duty exemption on aids and appliances.
Ø Excise duty exemption on aids and appliances
Ø Many State Governments/UT Administrations are extending free travel concession to persons with disabilities in buses.
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