West Bengal

Facilities and concessions in West Bengal

1. Concerned officer

The Director
Social Welfare,
Deptt. of Relief & Welfare,
Wrighter's Building,
Calcutta

2. Reservation in government jobs

3% of jobs are reserved for the handicapped in state Govt. and State Public Sector Undertakings.
(Department G.O No.10402-F, dated26.11.74)
Labour Deptt. G.O. No.500(100)-Emp/1M-43/94, dated7.10.97
Office Order No.4080-SW, dated 27/9/89, Deptt. of Relief &
Welfare, Wrighter's Building.

3. Age relaxation

The upper age limit for recruitment to State Government services and posts whether recruited through the Public Service Commission, West Bengal or otherwise is 45 years in the case of Physically Handicapped persons vide G.O. No. 10517-F.

4. Scholarships / Stipend

Disabled students get scholarship @ Rupees 60 P.M from Class I to Class VIII from the Directorate of Social Welfare whose parents income is Rupees 750 P.M.

(a) In case of Orthpaedically Handicapped candidates having abnormal defects which need special arrangement for transport, an additional allowance upto Rupees 20 P.M is available.

(b) In case of blind candidate an additional amount of Rupees 20 P.M is admissible as reader's allowances on the basis of the certificate issued by the head of the institution vide G.O.No. 1870-SW, dated3.8.90.

5. Disability pension / Social security pension

Rupees 300 per head per month is paid to the disabled person with effect from 1.4.97 as Disability / Social Security pension in terms of this Department Notification No. 3014-SW, dated 10.7.97.

6. Conveyance allowance

Disabled employees get conveyance allowance @ Rupees 100 P.M per Government employee.

7. Bus concession

Free bus and tram journey facility is available to following types of physically handicapped persons :

(i) persons who are blind in both eyes
(ii) persons whose visual impairment is 40% or above
(iii) persons who are unable to move on their own because of disease of
long duration or congenital defects
(iv) deaf and dumb persons including students

8. Assistance for self employment

Three categories of disabled persons viz. Locomoter Handicapped, Deaf and Dumb and Blind with degree of disability 40% and above are allowed a grant by State Govt. to the extent of Rupees 1,000 only for self employment programmes.

9. Assistance for purchase of aids and appliances

As per order no. 7760-SW, dated29.10.93 Prosthetic aids are given to a handicapped person whose income is not enough to enable him/her to procure the aid. No specific income limit for the handicapped person or his/her relation has been mentioned in the said order.

10. Other concessions / facilities / programmes

(i) Relaxation in typing knowledge - The qualification regarding working knowledge in typing for the post of clerks has been relaxed.

(ii) Issue of Identity cards: Medical Boards have been constituted in all the Districts and identity cards for the disabled are being issued to the eligible beneficiaries with above 40% disability in the Districts from the District Headquarters and in Calcutta from the Directorate of Social Welfare.

(iii) Economic Rehabilitation for the skilled draftsmen: For economic rehabilitation of skilled draftsman of I.T.I Rupees 5000 per trainees may be sanctioned to help them start any trade. Financial assistance may also be made available to them from financial institutions where Govt. will act as guarantor.

(iv) Appointment of Commissioner: A Commissioner has been appointed for Persons with Disabilities for the State of West Bengal, vide notification number 2751-SW, dated16.6.97.

(v) Appointment of Competent Authority: A competent Authority has been appointed for the purpose of recognition of Institutions for the Persons with Disability, vide notification number 2751-SW, dated 16.6.97.

(vi) Other concession facilities given by the State Government to the handicapped persons are :

• Preference in housing
• 1% of Govt. flats are reserved for the disabled
• Concession in communication
• Concession in Custom duty
• Concession in age, qualification, etc.
• Exemption from payment of examination fee for competitive examinations of SSC, UPSC for recruitment of various Group `C' and B (Non-gazetted) posts.
• State Award is given to out standing employees of physically handicapped persons.