Creating Awareness for Learning of Persons with Intellectual Disability: Government Initiatives

In my previous post, where I addressed the various issues to be addressed in respect of PwID community, also some briefing was also done, In this post my prime agenda will be to highlight how these issues can be addressed and how awareness can be done as in the society and also how the community can also get aware of their rights. Peculiarly, here I would be talking about the need of the hour in today's scenerio, also we will get an insight as of what are the various government initiatives in this regard, also the numbers are alarming. Up to 3% of India’s 1.3 billion population lives with some form of IDD. Over 12% of Indian children aged 2 to 9 years have neuro developmental disorders. As they grow older, they are stigmatized and are considered less deserving of education and employment. This impacts their ability to achieve their full potential.

Some of the government initiatives are discussed as under:

National Trust Schemes

DISHA - Early Intervention and School Readiness Scheme - This is an early intervention and school readiness scheme for children upto 10 years with the disabilities covered under the National Trust Act.

VIKAAS - Day Care - A day care scheme for persons with autism, cerebral palsy, mental retardation and multiple disabilities, above 10 years for enhancing interpersonal and vocational skills.

SAMARTH - Respite Care - TA scheme to provide respite home for orphans, families in crisis, Persons with Disabilities (PwD) from BPL, LIG families with at least one of the four disabilities covered under the National Trust Act.

GHARAUNDA - Group Home for Adults - This scheme provides housing and care services throughout the life of the person with Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Mental Retardation and Multiple Disabilities.

NIRAMAYA - Health Insurance Scheme - This scheme is to provide affordable Health Insurance to persons with Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Mental Retardation and Multiple Disabilities.

SAHYOGI - Caregiver training scheme - A scheme  to set up Caregiver Cells (CGCs) for training and creating skilled workforce of caregivers to care for Person with Disabilities (PwD) and their families.

GYAN PRABHA - Educational support - A scheme to encourage people with Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Mental Retardation and Multiple Disabilities for pursuing educational/ vocational courses.

PRERNA - Marketing Assistance - A marketing scheme to create viable & wide spread channels for sale of products and services produced by persons with autism, cerebral palsy, mental retardation and multiple disabilities.

SAMBHAV - Aids and Assistive Devices - This is a scheme to setup additional resource centres in each city, to collate and collect the Aids, software and other form of assistive devices

ADIP Scheme

Scheme of Assistance to Disabled Persons for Purchase/Fitting of Aids/Appliances (ADIP Scheme)

The main objective of the Scheme is to assist the needy disabled persons in procuring durable, sophisticated and scientifically manufactured, modern, standard aids and appliances to promote physical, social, psychological rehabilitation of Persons with Disabilities by reducing the effects of disabilities and at the same time enhance their economic potential.

NHFDC

The ‘National Handicapped Finance and Development Corporation’ has been incorporated by Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India on 24th January, 1997 under section 25 of the companies Act. 1956 as a company not for profit. It is wholly owned by Government of India and has an authorised share capital of Rs.400 crores (Rupees Four Hundred crores only).

As against awareness not only government policies are important, but their implementation by such community is also very important. In the next post, I will highlight the societal factors involved in this communal regard and will also highlight role of volunteers in this regard.