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Schemes and policies for people with disabilities

Schemes and policies for PwDs

According to census 2011, there are 26.8 million people with disabilities. In percentage, this stands for 2.21%.
The government of India has enacted some important acts for the welfare of people with disabilities in India. This legal provision on disability ensures that all individuals live in a society with equal rights.
Important Acts for people with disabilities (as shared by National Handicapped Finance and Development Corporation):

1. The Mental Health Act, 1987
The Mental Health Act, 1987 was replaced by the government of India in 2017 with ‘The Mental Healthcare Act, 2017’. The objective is to provide mental healthcare and services for persons with mental illness and to protect, promote and fulfil the rights of individuals with mental illness.

2. The Rehabilitation Council of India Act, 1992
The Council lays down policy parameters regarding various aspects of training and education in the field of Rehabilitation and all institutions have to seek recognition from RCI as per the provision of the RCI Act, 1992. A list of RCI’s approved training institutes is available in the public domain and can be accessed through http://www.rehabcouncil.nic.in/

3. Person with Disabilities Act, 1995
The Act provides for both preventive and promotional aspects of rehabilitation like education, employment and vocational training, job reservation, research and manpower development, creation of a barrier-free environment, rehabilitation of person with a disability, unemployment allowance for the disabled, special insurance scheme for the disabled employees and establishment of homes for persons with severe disability etc.

4. The National Trust for the Welfare of Persons with Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Mental Retardation and Multiple Disabilities Act, 1999
The Government of India enacted the National Trust for the Welfare of Persons with Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Mental Retardation and Multiple Disabilities Act, 1999 with the objective to provide for the constitution of a body at the National level for the Welfare of Persons with Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Mental Retardation and Multiple Disabilities and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.

5. Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPWD) Act, 2016
The Act replaces the Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act, 1995. It fulfils the obligations to the United National Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), to which India is a signatory.
The government has implemented a number of schemes and allowances as part of these Acts. These schemes involve:
1. Tax benefits
2. Travel benefits
3. Hotel discounts
4. Income activities
5. Loans
6. Public employment

Check out Government Schemes for individuals with developmental disabilities: Tax benefits, travel allowances, income activities & employability, to read in-depth about the above-mentioned schemes.
There are also Government Schemes for Education, scholarships & skill training for individuals with developmental disabilities.

If you’re seeking more information and guidance on this topic and related areas, Nayi Disha’s Know Your Rights (KYR) Program is here to support you every step of the way. By joining, you’ll gain access to valuable resources on government schemes, benefits, financial support, legal rights, and more, all aimed at securing a brighter future for your child. To learn more, visit our chatbot by clicking this link: https://bit.ly/4dJVCP3, or simply type ‘KYR’ on our helpline number 844-844-8996.

DISCLAIMER: Please note that this article is for information purposes only.

How Public Spaces In India Have Failed Persons With Disabilities(PwDs)?

Persons with disabilities (PWDs)

2016 was a landmark year for Persons with Disabilities(PwDs) because of the passing of the Persons With Disabilities Act, 2016. Passed to bring into effect the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities which was adopted in 2006, this was a welcome move to make sure there were clear directives and protections for all aspects of a PwD’s life. 

One of the promises of this act was that “All existing public buildings shall be made accessible in accordance with the rules formulated by the Central Government within a period not exceeding five years from the date of notification of such rule”

Additionally, another clause mentioned in the act specifies that all service providers, government or private shall provide services in accordance with the rules on accessibility formulated by the Central Government within two years of the notification. 

As we write this piece in 2022, we are shocked at the state of affairs of public spaces for persons with disabilities. On one hand, we have established brands in the entertainment space like PVR show wheelchair-friendly options on their website, but the allotted space not being there when a patron tries to access it. Very recently, there has been a case of a famous old theatre in Kochi  renovating without including a ramp or any arrangements for making the space accessible. 

We wanted to focus on movie theaters as an example of public spaces whereas the same problem persists when it comes to cafes, restaurants, bus stops and almost all spaces used by the public in general. For a convention adopted 16 years back and an updated act for Persons with Disabilities(PWDs) 6 years ago, our public spaces in India still seem to be playing catch up and most of them don’t care about accessibility and disability rights enough to even make an effort. 

It will take sustained effort and pressure from all sections of society to bring about real change that truly makes our public spaces accessible and inclusive for Persons with Disabilities(PwDs). We hope the right people will be held accountable and that it happens sooner than later.

You can also check government schemes for individuals with developmental disabilities.

If you have questions about Autism, Down Syndrome, ADHD, or other intellectual disabilities, or have concerns about developmental delays in a child, the Nayi Disha team is here to help. For any questions or queries, please contact our FREE Helpline at  844-844-8996 You can call or what’s app us. Our counselors speak different languages including English, Hindi, Malayalam, Gujarati, Marathi, Telugu, and Bengali. 

DISCLAIMER: Please note that this article is for information purposes only.

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