What Do You Understand by Disabled?

The term disabled refers to individuals who have physical, mental, intellectual, or sensory impairments that significantly hinder their ability to perform everyday tasks. Disabilities can be congenital (present from birth) or acquired (due to injury, illness, or aging). Examples include mobility impairments, vision or hearing loss, cognitive disabilities, or mental health conditions. Disabled individuals often face challenges in accessing education, employment, healthcare, and social inclusion due to societal barriers and lack of infrastructure.

Disabled Welfare Programmes in India

1. The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016

• This legislation aims to provide equal opportunities, protection of rights, and full participation for persons with disabilities. It recognizes 21 types of disabilities, including autism, cerebral palsy, and hearing impairment.
• The Act mandates reservation in education and government jobs for disabled individuals and makes provisions for accessible infrastructure in public spaces and transport.

2. National Handicapped Finance and Development Corporation (NHFDC)

• NHFDC provides financial assistance to persons with disabilities for self-employment and vocational training. It offers loans with lower interest rates to start small businesses or gain skills that help in economic independence.

3. Deendayal Disabled Rehabilitation Scheme (DDRS)

• The DDRS supports NGOs and voluntary organizations that work for the rehabilitation of disabled individuals. This includes vocational training, skill development, and providing assistive devices like wheelchairs, hearing aids, and prosthetics.

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

• The ADIP scheme provides financial assistance to purchase or fit aids and appliances for people with disabilities. For example, individuals with mobility impairments can receive wheelchairs, and those with hearing impairments can get hearing aids.

5. National Scheme of Incentive to Girls for Secondary Education (NSIGSE)

• This scheme offers financial assistance to disabled girls to encourage their education by providing scholarships for secondary education, reducing dropout rates among disabled students.

6. Accessible India Campaign

• The Accessible India Campaign (Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan) focuses on making public spaces, buildings, and transportation accessible for persons with disabilities. It includes creating accessible websites, providing braille signage, and ensuring barrier-free infrastructure in government offices, railway stations, and airports.

Conclusion

India has several welfare programs aimed at empowering and improving the lives of disabled individuals. From legal protections under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act to financial support through NHFDC and accessibility initiatives like the Accessible India Campaign, these programs aim to promote equality and inclusion. However, more work is needed to ensure the full participation of disabled individuals in society, especially in remote areas where awareness and resources are still limited.