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Central Government Provisions

Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment Schemes

Scheme to promote Voluntary Action for persons with disabilities (Umbrella Scheme)

Scheme of assistance to disabled persons for purchase/lifting of aids & appliances (ADIP)

Scheme to promote Voluntary Action for persons with disabilities (Umbrella Scheme)

The enactment of the people with disabilities, equal opportunities and protection of Right Act of 1995 is landmark legislation and an expression of India's commitment of social justice.

The Disability Division of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has so far been administering the following five grant-in-aid schemes which are being implemented through NGO’s:

1. Scheme of Assistance to organizations for the disabled.
2. Scheme of Assistance to Disabled Persons for Purchase/Fitting of Aids/Appliances.
3. Scheme of Assistance of Voluntary Organization for the Rehabilitation of Leprosy Cured Persons.
4. Scheme of Assistance to voluntary Organizations for Special School for Handicapped Children; and
5. Scheme of Assistance of Organizations for Persons with Cerebral Palsy and Mental Retardation.

In order to make these schemes more effective and better result oriented it has been decided that the Four Schemes mentioned at (1), (3), (4), and (5) be replaced by the present 'Scheme to promote Voluntary Actions for Persons with Disabilities' also known as Umbrella Scheme, which incorporates all the components of the earlier schemes and also cover the new areas in the field of disabilities. So far as the Scheme at (2) is concerned, It has already been revised.

The Umbrella Scheme simplifies and facilitates procedure for easy access to Government support for NGOs with the aim to widen the scope and range of programmes. It will address the unmet needs of the over 95% Indian citizens with disabilities who have not had access to services so far.

Objectives

• To encourage effective implementation to the Act
• To encourage voluntary action.
• To create enabling environment.
• To ensure equal opportunities, equity and social justice to persons with disabilities.
• To empower persons with disabilities.
• To implement outreach and comprehensive Community-based Rehabilitation programmes in urban and rural environments.
• To enhance education opportunities at all levels and in all forms.
• To enlarge the scope of vocational and professional opportunities, income generation and gainful occupations.
• To support people with disabilities in project with are environment friendly and eco promotive.
• To support effort to ensure protection of human, civil and consumer rights to persons with disabilities.
• To support legal literacy, including legal counselling, legal aid and analysis and evaluation of existing laws.
• To support the development publication and discrimination of information documentation and training materials.
• To support the conduct of surveys and other forms of epidemiological studies.
• To support (a) construction and maintenance of building, (b) furniture and fixtures, and (c) installation and maintenance of machinery and equipment.
• To support and facilitate the availability of appropriate housing homes and hostel facilities.
• To establish and support facilities for sport, recreation, leisure-time activities, excursions, creative performing arts, cultural and socially inclusive activities.
• To promote research in various development areas, innovative strategies, assistive devices and enabling technologies and support production of such devices ensuring equality control
• To support manpower development activities to train required personnel at different levels for all programmes /projects/ activities for persons with disabilities.
• To set up well equipped resource centers at different levels.
• To promote and support the development of self-help groups, parent organization and independent living.
• To encourage coordination, cooperation and networking and multi sectoral linkages.
• To support such other measures, which may meet the needs of the persons with disability and fulfil the obligation as prescribed in the Disability act of 1995.

Eligible organisation

1. The organisation should be:

a) Registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860 (XXI of 1860) or any relevant Act of the State/Union Territory, or
b) A public trust registered under the law for the time being in force; or,
c) A charitable company licensed under section 25 of the company Act, 1958.

For at least 2 years at the time of applying for grant under this scheme in case relaxation to this condition is required detailed justification should be given. Secretary (SJ &E) is empowered to waive this condition, for reasons to be recorded in writing (in exceptional cases)

2. It should have a legally constituted managing body.
3. It is not run for profit to any individual or a body of individuals.

Extent of Support

• The quantum of support shall be determined on the scope and merits of the project proposal, which could be up to 90%.
• The norms of payment are mentioned in the scheme booklet.
• If an organization has already received or is expecting to receive a grant from some other official source for a project for which application is being made under this scheme, the grant under this scheme will be sanctioned after taking that into account. The applicant will have to give information/declaration to that effect.
• The grant will be released in two instalments normally. The first instalment of 50% of the admissible amount will be released on adhoc basis, subject to nothing adverse.

Introduction of 3 new projects under the Umbrella Scheme:

The following 3 new projects have been introduced in addition to the 4 existing projects mentioned at S.No. (1), (3), (4) & (5) in the second para of the Umbrella Scheme:

a) Project for community Based Rehabilitation.
b) Project for Legal Literacy, including Legal Counselling, Legal Aid and Evaluation of Existing Laws.
c) Environment friendly and Eco-Promotive Projects for the handicapped.

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Scheme of assistance to disabled persons for purchase/lifting of aids & appliances (ADIP)

The Scheme aims at helping the disabled persons by bringing suitable, durable, scientifically manufactured, modern, standard aids and appliances within their reach.

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 that can promote their physical, social and psychological rehabilitation, by reducing the effects of disabilities and "enhance their economic potential.

The Scheme will be implemented through the implementing Agencies. The agencies will be provided with financial assistance for purchase, fabrication and distribution of such standard aids and appliances that are in conformity with the objectives of the Scheme. The implementing agencies will take care of/make suitable arrangements for fitting and post-lifting care of the aids and appliances distribute under ADIP Scheme. The scope of the scheme has been further enlarged to include use of mass media, exhibitions, workshops etc., for exchange of information and promoting awareness and distribution and use of aids/appliances.

Eligibility of implementing agency

The following agencies would be eligible to implement the scheme on behalf of Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, subject to fulfilment of laid down terms and conditions.

• Societies registered under the societies registration Act, 1860 and their branches, if any, separately.
• Registered charitable trusts.
• District Rural Development Agencies, Indian Red Cross Societies and other Autonomous bodies headed by District Collector/Chief Executive Officer/District Development Officer of Zilla Parishad.
• National/Apex Institutes including ALIMCO functioning under administrative control of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment/Ministry of Health and family Welfare.
• State handicapped Development Corporations.
• Local Bodies - Zilla Parishad, Muncipalities, District Autonomous Development Councils and Panchayats.
• Nehru Yuvak Kendras.

Eligibility of the beneficiaries

A person with disabilities fulfilling following conditions would be eligible for assistance under ADIP Scheme through authorized agencies: -

• He/she should be an Indian citizen of any age.
• Should be certified by a Registered Medical Practitioner that he/she is disabled and fit to use prescribed aid/appliance.
• Person who is employed/self-employed or getting pension and whose monthly income from all sources does not exceed Rupees 8,000 per month.
• In case of dependents, the income of parents/guardians should not exceed Rupees 8,000 per month.
• Persons who have not received assistance from the Government, local bodies and Non-Official Organisations during the last 3 years for the same purpose. However for children below 12 years of age this limit would be 1 year.

Quantum of assistance to disabled persons

Only those aids/appliances which do not cost less than Rupees 50 and more than Rupees 6,000 are covered under the scheme. However for visually, mentally, speech and hearing or multiple disabled, the limit should be Rupees 8,000 during their study period upto XII standard. The limits will apply to individual items of aid and where more than one aids is required, the ceiling will apply separately. The amount of assistance will be follows:

Further, travelling cost would be admissible limited to bus fare in ordinary class or railway by second class sleeper subject to limit or Rupees 250 for beneficiary irrespective of number of visits to the centre and a Certificate from Doctor or Rehabilitation professional, travel expenses subject to the same limit would be admissible to an attendant/escort accompanying the beneficiary. The beneficiary should attend the Rehabilitation Centre nearest to his/her place of residence, except in the North-Eastern Region where he may be allowed travel cost for travelling outside the region till such facilities become available with that region.

Boarding and lodging expenses at the rate of Rupees 30 per day for maximum duration of 15 days would be admissible, only for those patients whose total income is upto Rupees 5,000 per month.

Types of aids / appliances to be provided

The following aids and appliances may be allowed for each type of disabled individual. However, any other item as notified from time to time by the Ministry of Social justice and Empowerment for the purpose will be allowed.

Visually Disabled:

• Learning equipments like arithmetic frames, abacus, geometry kits etc., Gaint Braille dosts system for slow-learning blind children. Dictaphone and other variable speed recording system. Tape recorder for blind student upto XII standard.
• Science learning equipments like talking balance, talking thermometers, measuring equipments like tape measures, micrometers etc.
• Braille writing equipments including baraillers, Braille shorthand machines, typewriters for blind students after the XII Class. Talking calculators, Geography learning equipment like raised maps and globes.
• Communication equipment for the deaf blind Braille attachments for telephone for deaf-blind persons.
• Low vision aids including hand-held stand, lighted and unlighted magnifiers, speech synthesisers or Braille attachments for computers.
• Special mobility aids for visually disabled people with muscular dystrophy or cerebral palsy like adapted walkers.

For further details including the application form visit the Ministry of Social Justice site

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