OVER SEVEN LAKH PERSONS WITH
DISABILITIES PROVIDED AIDS AND ASSISTIVE DEVICES UNDER THE ADIP
SCHEME
LOK
SABHA
Over seven lakh persons
were provided aids and assistive devices under the Scheme for
Assistance to Disabled Persons (ADIP) during the Asia-Pacific
Decade of Disabled Persons (1993-2002). In addition 839 NGOs were
funded under the ADIP and Scheme for Voluntary Action for Persons
with Disabilities. Stating this in a written reply in the Lok
Sabha today, the Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment Dr.
Satyanarayan Jatiya said that outreach activities for improving
access to rehabilitation services was expanded through the setting
up of five Composite Regional Centres, four Regional Rehabilitation
Centres for Persons with Spinal Injuries and 85 District Disability
Rehabilitation Centres. He said that expansion of manpower development
programmes in the field of rehabilitation was carried out through
national institutes and institutions recognised by the Rehabilitation
Council of India. Dr. Jatiya said that other measures included
extension of concessional credit to disabled persons for self-employment
ventures through the National Handicapped Finance and Development
Corporation, its channelising agencies, NGOs and poverty alleviation
programmes implemented through the Ministry of Rural Development
and Ministry of Urban Affairs and Poverty Alleviation. He said
that 3% reservation of seats for the disabled was made in educational
institutions and in jobs in government and semi-government institutions.
Dr. Jatiya said that the other important initiatives included
the enactment of the Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities,
Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act, 1995 and the
National Trust for the Welfare of Persons with Autism, Cerebral
Palsy, Mental Retardation and Multiple Disabilities Act, 1999.
The National Trust has become functional since 2000.
