Government Rehabilitation Services

The Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment is the nodal agency of the Central Government that promotes services for the people with disabilities through its various schemes.

Objectives

The primary object is to promote services for people with disabilities through government and non government organizations, so that they are encouraged to become functionally independent and productive members of the nation through opportunities of education, vocational training, medical rehabilitation, and socio-economic rehabilitation.

Emphasis is also placed on coordination of services particularly those related to health, nutrition, education, science and technology, employment, sports, cultural, art and craft and welfare programs of various government and non-government organizations.

District Rehabilitation Center (DRC) Project

The District Rehabilitation Center scheme was launched in early 1985 to provide comprehensive rehabilitation services to the rural disabled. This was done in collaboration with the National Institute of Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR), Washington, U.S.A. A Central Administrative and Coordinaiton Unit (CACU) for coordinating and administering the activities of DRC was set up.

The aims and objectives of the DRCs include surveys of disabled population, prevention, early detection and medical intervention and surgical correction, fitting of artificial aids and appliances, therapeutic services - physiotherapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy, provision of educational services in special and integrated schools, provision of vocational training, job placement in local industries and trades, self-employment opportunities, awareness generation for the involvement of community and family to create a cadre of multi-disciplinary professionals to take care of major categories of disabled in the district. At present, 11 DRCs function in 10 States in India.

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Regional Rehabilitation Training Center (RRTC)

Four Regional Rehabilitation Centers have been functioning under the DRCs scheme at Mumbai, Chennai, Cuttack and Lucknow since 1985 for the training of village level functionaries, training of DRCsprofessionals, orientation and training of State Government officials, research in service delivery and low cost aids, etc. Apart from developing training material and manuals for actual field use, RRTCsalso produce material for creating community awareness through the medium of folders, posters, audio-visuals, films and traditional forms.

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National Information Center on Disability & Rehabilitation (NICDR)

A National Information Center on Disability and Rehabilitation was set up under CACU in 1987 to provide a database for comprehensive information on all facilities and welfare services for the disabled within the country. It also acts as a nodal agency for awareness creation, preparation/collection and dissemination of materials/information on disability relief and rehabilitation. The computerized data so far collected relates to institutions/professionals working for the disabled, aids and appliances, scholarships, national awards and physical/financial performance of DRCs/RRTCs. It publishes the Indian Journal of Disability and Rehabilitation.

The Media Cell is responsible for the publication of awareness-generation material/journals, hold Seminars/Workshops, organisation of Film Festival/Exhibitions, production of films, etc. UNICEF assistance is obtained for different activities on awareness creation.

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National Council for Handicapped Welfare

Objectives

  • Ensure a coordinated and comprehensive approach to research, training and services for the disabled population
  • Evolve a National Plan of Action
  • Review legislative, administrative and other measures for the welfare of disabled
  • Evolve policy guidelines for the welfare and rehabilitation of the disabled persons
  • Ensure people's participation in the rehabilitation of the disabled

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National Handicapped Finance & Development Corporation

The Government has set up the National Handicapped Finance & Development Corporation with an authorized share capital of Rs 400 crore to make the persons with disabilities self reliant, economically productive and to bring them into the mainstream of economic activity. The Corporation provides soft loan to set up cottage industries.

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Assistance through Overseas Development Administration, UK

Urban Based Community Rehabilitation programs have been taken up in the cities of Calcutta, Bangalore and Vishakapatnam under the Overseas Development Administration of the United Kingdom (ODA).

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Training in the UK under the Colombo Plan

Every year, officers/NGOs are sponsored to for undergo training in the UK under the Colombo Plan. The officers are nominated from Central Government, State Governments, National Institutes and from non-governmental organizations that are actively engaged in providing welfare services to the handicapped and disadvantaged.

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UNICEF Assistance in collaboration with the Government of India

The Master Plan Operation (MPO) 1991-95 was launched in 1991, with the help of UNICEF, to prevent childhood disabilities in India. The Master Plan of Operation short-listed the following components of programs as major areas of activities:
  • Strengthening and integrating disability prevention and rehabilitation in existing government services at the community level.
  • Support for communications, including audio-visual and print media for advocacy, information and training.
  • Support to research and planning, especially to studies which promote interventions that can be taken up by the community in rural areas and/or urban slums.
  • Support for innovative projects at the community level, particularly those being run by NGOs.
  • Monitoring and evaluation of ongoing programs.

Objectives of the Master Plan of Operations (Bridge Program) 1996-97

  • The convention on the rights of the child
  • National Plan and State Plan of Action for the prevention, early detection and intervention of childhood disability
  • The Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP): The Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific at the 48th session, held at Beijing in 1992, adopted its Resolution No. 48/3 which proclaimed the period 1993-2002 as the Asian and the Pacific Decade of Disabled Persons, with a view to give fresh impetus to the implementation of World Program of Action concerning disabled persons in the ESCAP Region beyond 1992. India is a signatory to the ESCAP Resolution. It had hosted UNESCAP Technical Workshop on the Production and Distribution of Indigenous Assistance Devices at Madras from 5 to 14 September, 1995, in which representatives of about 22 countries participated. India has been in the forefront of the international movement towards protecting the rights and interests of persons with disabilities. India was also an active partner in the International Year of the Disabled Persons; UN Decade of Disabled Persons; SAARC Year of Disabled Persons, 1993 and ESCAP.

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National Awards

On the occasion of the World Disabled Day every year, the President of India gives away National Awards to:
  • The Best Employee
  • The Best Employer
  • The Best Individual
  • The Best Institution
  • The Best Placement Officer