Framing of guidelines for smooth functioning of Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) in their duties in Government services.

IMMEDIATE

No.36035/3/2013-Estt.(Res.II)
Government of India
Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions
Department of Personnel and Training.

North Block, New Delhi
Dated 10th June, 2013

OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Subject: Framing of guidelines for smooth functioning of Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) in their duties in Government services.

   The undersigned is directed to inform that a Committee has been constituted under the Chairmanship of Joint Secretary (AT&A), DoPT to identify measures and prepare guidelines to enable smooth functioning of Persons with Disabilities in their duties in Government service.

   2. With this aim in view, the National Institute for the Visually Handicapped, Dehradun (under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment) has authorised NAB, India Centre for Blind Women and Disability Studies, New Delhi to undertake the field study in this regard. The NAB would undertake field study in this Department for at least two days covering the following aspects:

   (i) to gain an insight into the work content and gauge the feasibility of PwDs working on those jobs

   (ii) execute some trials by blind or low vision persons at these tasks to verify the feasibility

   (iii) obtain feedback from peers and supervisors.

   3. It is requested to extend fullest cooperation to the NAB and the queries raised by them during their visit in your Ministry/Department are responded so that the scope of work in identified jobs and feasibility of PwDs working on those jobs could be gauged by them.

Sd/-
(Debabrata Das)
Under Secretary to the Govt. of India

Source:http://ccis.nic.in/WriteReadData/CircularPortal/D2/D02adm/36035_3_2013-Estt-Res.II.pdf

Train Travel Concession for Disabled Persons.

   Train Travel Concession for Disabled Persons

   Indian Railways grant concession to four categories of disabled persons in extreme cases i.e. (i) Orthopedically Handicapped/Paraplegic persons who cannot travel without escort (ii) Mentally Retarded persons who cannot travel without escort (iii) Completely Blind persons travelling alone or with escort and (iv) Totally Deaf and Dumb persons (both afflictions together in the same person) travelling alone or with escort. One escort is also granted same concession. Concessions are granted at stations on surrendering the copy of prescribed disability certificate.

   No age limit has been prescribed for eligibility of concession in the case of disabled persons. Indian Railways grant concessions to disabled persons on production of prescribed disability certificate irrespective of age.

    This information was given by the Minister of State for Railways Shri Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury in written reply to a question in Lok Sabha today.

Employment to Disabled Persons.

   As per Section 33 of the Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) (PwD) Act, 1995, every appropriate Government shall appoint in every establishment such percentage of vacancies not less than three percent for persons or class of persons with disability of which one per cent. each shall be reserved for persons suffering from-

   (i) Blindness or low vision;

   (ii) Bearing impairment;

   (iii) Loco motor disability or cerebral palsy, in the posts identified for each disability:

   Further, with a view to encourage employment of Persons with Disabilities in private sector, the Government provides the employer’s contribution for Employees Provident Fund (EPF) and Employees State Insurance (ESI) for 3 years, for employees with disabilities including visually impaired persons employed in the private sector on or after 01.04.2008, with a monthly salary upto Rs.25, 000 under its Scheme of Incentives to the Private Sector for Employment of Physically Challenged Persons.

   Government has issued uniform and comprehensive guidelines for conducting examination for the persons with disabilities for regular and competitive examinations.

   Government has issued instructions that such persons having disability certificate should be provided reservation in all groups of identified posts in the matter of direct recruitment, and in Group ‘C’ and ‘D’ posts identified in the matter of promotion.

   This information was given by the Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment, Shri D. Napoleon in a written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha today.

Welfare Schemes for Disabled.

   Department of Disability Affairs under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment administers the following major schemes for the welfare and rehabilitation of persons with disabilities: (i) Deendayal Disabled Rehabilitation Scheme (DDRS) under which financial assistance is provided to Non-governmental organizations running projects for the welfare of persons with disabilities & (ii) Schemes of Assistance to Disabled Persons for Purchase/Fitting of Aids/ Appliances (ADIP) under which assistance is provided to Implementing Agencies for providing aids and appliances to persons with disabilities.

   Besides, seven National Institutes (NIs), eight Composite Regional Centers (CRCs) and 220 District Disability Rehabilitation Centres (DDRCs) under the Ministry are engaged in human resource development, providing rehabilitation services to the persons with disabilities, research & development efforts and awareness generation etc.

   Enhancement of budget depends on factors like requirement, availability and utilization of funds. Notwithstanding this the budget for the disability sector has been increasing over the years.

    Under DDRS and ADIP Schemes, grants are released on receipt of recommendations of the State Govt. and the inspection report in respect of a particular NGO/Agency. In the case of ADIP, the recommending authority also conducts 5 to 10% test check of the beneficiaries from the previous grant to the organization. The organizations are also required to furnish audited utilization certificate in respect of the previous grant.

   The National Institutes, their Regional Centres and Composite Regional Centres have been allocated States/UTs for inspection and monitoring of the NGOs/ Implementing Agencies receiving grants under the disability related schemes.

   The Department has nominated Nodal Officers for various regions, States/UTs for monitoring the implementation of various schemes.

   This information was given by the Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment, Shri D. Napoleon in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha today.

Disability Benefit to Defence Personnel.

   Armed Forces personnel who are retained in service despite the disability held attributable to or aggravated by military service are entitled tolumpsum compensation of disability / war injury element at the time of disability.

   Those who do not opt for the retention are entitled to disability pension / war injury pension on retirement / discharge. No disability pension / war injury pension is admissible on retirement / discharge once the lumpsum compensation has been obtained by the personnel.