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Facilities and concessions in Kerala

(The Kerala Government has set up `The Kerala State Handicapped Persons Welfare Corporation' a Public Sector Undertaking registered under the Companies Act with the sole intention of organising Welfare measures for the Handicapped).

1. Concerned officer

The Director,
Social Welfare,
Vikas Bhavan,Thiruanantpuram,
Kerala 635 033

2. Reservation

(a) In Government Jobs: No reservation in Government or P.S.U. However, 3% reservation has been made for the part time contingency posts. Similarly, 1% vacancies in worker class in the Government, Companies & corporations are reserved for physically disabled.

(b) In Educational institutions

• 3 seats are reserved in admission in arts & science college
• 3 seats are reserved in engineering colleges
• 9 seats are reserved in polytechnic colleges
• 5% seats are reserved in junior technical school
• 5 seats are reserved in ITI's
• 25% teachers post in special schools are reserved.

(c) In Rajiv one million Housing Scheme: Under this scheme, 1% houses constructed for economic weaker section has been reserved for physically disabled persons.

3. Age relaxation

The upper age limit is relaxed by 10 years for disabled persons for applying in Government jobs.

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4. Scholarship / Stipend

Scholarship is given to the disabled whose parent's income is less than Rupees 24000 P.A. the details of which are as follows:

a) Scholarship from Class I to IV:

(b) Scholarship from Class IX onwards:

• In addition to the Scholarship amount, the Orthopaedically Handicapped students are given @ Rupees 25 p.m. for the maintenance of Prosthetic/Orthotic Aids and Rupees 50 per month as transportation allowance.
• Scholarship to Mentally Retarded Children: Children upto the age of 21 studying in Pvt. institutions whose parents' annual income is upto Rupees 24,000 are being paid scholarship @ Rupees 60 per month Dress allowance @ Rupees 40P.A. and school requisite allowance @ Rupees 20P.A.

5. Maintenance allowance / scholarship (through institution / NGO)

In case of Orthopaedically disabled the additional allowance of Rupees 25 for purchase & maintenance of prosthesis appliances shall be paid on the recommendations of the head of the institutions.

6. Disability pension / Social Security pension

Blind Deaf, Orthopaedically Handicapped and Mentally Retarded persons whose annual family income does not exceed Rupees 3,600 are granted disability pension @ Rupees 85 p.m.

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7. Conveyance allowance

Rupees 100 for Blind and P.H. employees of aided Schools and Government departments and Rupees 50 to part time employee. (vide G.O.(P)No.521/87/Fin., dt. 15.6.87)

8. Bus concession

Free travel facility is provided to blind on bus and boat. Physically disabled persons with 50% disability and above are eligible for 75% concession in State Buses. In private buses, 70% concession to travel upto 40 k.m. are allowed to physically disabled persons having 50% disability or above.

9. Assistance for self-employment

Loans are being given to physically handicapped persons from Banks through Kerala State Handicapped Welfare's Corporation for organising self-employment programmes and computerisation of telephone booths, a subsidy of Rupees 2,000 linked with bank loan will be given to each of the beneficiaries under the Scheme. Apart from the above programmes, the Corporation is now running the following commercial units with the intention to give direct employment to disabled persons:

(i) Sowbhagya Deptt. Store, Trivandrum
(ii) Sowbhagya Deptt. Store Calicut
(iii)Sowbhagya Extension Counter, MLA Quarters, Trivandrum
(iv) Photocopier Unit, MLA Quarters, Trivandrum
(v) Envelop making unit, Trivandrum.

10. Grace marks

Upto 10 as the discretion of the Public Service Commission for direct recruitment to the various posts except which are specifically excluded.

11. Awards / Seminars / Sports

a) State awards are given to the outstanding employees among the physically disabled and the most efficient PH employees. The existing grant amount is Rupees 3,000 per head.

b) There is a scheme to give away state awards to institutions in recognition to the meritorious service rendered for different categories of disabled.

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12. Assistance for purchase of aids / appliances

Under this Scheme, disabled persons within the income ceiling of Rupees 12000 p.a. will receive the benefit. Aids & appliances like artificial limbs, hand operated tricycles, wheel chairs, calipers, including internal artificial devices, crutches, hearing aids, white canes, goggles etc. are supplied free of cost to eligible persons.

13. Exemption in professional / road tax

Handicapped persons get exemption in professional/road tax.

14. Other facilities

(i) Additional income tax exemption: Handicapped persons get additional income tax exemption of Rupees 5,000.

(ii) Vocational training: There are 2 vocational training centres run by the Government. One in Thiruvananthapuram and other in Kozhikode.

(iii) Special casual leave: 15 days treatment of illness, which is directly connected with the disabled. (Vide G.O.(P)249/84/Fin. dt. 9.5.84).

(iv) Supply of motorised tricycles: Handicapped persons having a regular and reasonable income and who are to travel frequently in connection with their job are given subsidy of Rupees 2000 per beneficiary linked with bank loan for procuring motorised tricycles/vehicles.

(v) Financial Assistance to Blind Advocates: The blind advocates who are engaged in practice are given a grant of Rupees 2,500 towards the purchase of law books, professional suits payment of chamber rent etc. and a monthly allowance of Rupees 1,000 for engaging a reader to assist him in reading reference materials and in the preparation of notes. (As per G.O.No. 230/96/SWD dt. 30.11.96). Usually financial assistance to the blind advocates are given for 5 years.

(vi) Financial Assistance to Orthopaedically Handicapped Advocates: The Orthopaedically Handicapped Advocates who are engaged in practice are given a grant of Rupees 2,500 towards the purchase of Law books, professional suits etc.

(vii) Distress Relief Fund: For providing distress relief to the disabled persons, a distress relief fund has been constituted in the State vide G.O. (MS) No. 4/95/SWD; dt. 24.1.95. The maximum amount of relief under the scheme is Rupees 2,000 in a case in a financial year. But in a very exceptional case, the limit can be extended upto Rupees 8,000. Handicapped persons, whose annual income does not exceed Rupees 12,000 shall be eligible for financial assistance for the following purposes :

a) For medical treatment including operation
b) To persons who become disabled due to accident
c) For any other purpose which are not covered under by
existing schemes for disabled.

(vii) Physically disabled persons who attend tests and interviews are given T.A as per the existing rule.

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