DEPARTMENT FOR THE WELFARE OF DIFFERENTLY ABLED PERSONS

INTRODUCTION

Government of Tamil Nadu is committed to the all round development of the differently abled persons. Towards achieving this goal, the state Government created a separate department for the differently abled persons during 1993. As a pioneering step, the Government also formulated a comprehensive welfare policy during 1994.

The state Government’s endeavour  is to create an inclusive society by integrating the differently abled persons in the main stream by eliminating all kinds of by the community. The Government also provides a number of comprehensive welfare measures to different categories of the differently abled persons barriers causing hurdles in their overall development. Several innovative schemes have been introduced to prevent and control the occurrence of disabilities and their after-effect. Many step have been taken to access the rehabilitation services through the recognized  and registered Non-Governmental Organizations.

Newly enacted “The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act,2016” has expanded the scope for ensuring the rights of differently abled persons by including more categories of disabilities. To ensure their protection through various their protection through various social security schemes and other appropriate rehabilitation services, the state Government have initiated steps to create a database of all differently abled persons in the state.

ORGANISATION CHART

THE RIGHTS OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES ACT -2016:

Government of India have enactedthe Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016,which came into force with effect from 19^th day of April 2017.  This new Act has also included additional categories of differently abled Persons which are as follows:-

1. Cerebral palsy, Dwarfism, Muscular dystrophy and Disfigurement due to acid or similar corrosive substance;
2. Speech and language disability;
3. Intellectual disability – including specific learning disabilities, autism spectrum disorder, mental illness, multible sclerosis, Parkinson;s disease;
4. Blood disorders like “Haemophilia”, “Thalssemia “Sickle cell disease” ; and
5. Multiple disabilities.

ISSUE OF NATIONAL IDENTITY CARD AND PASS BOOK;

The state Government’s endeavur is to create an inclusive society by integrating the differently abled persons in the main stream by eliminating all kinds of by the community. The Government also provides a number of comprehensive welfare measures to different categories of the differently abled person’s barriers causing hurdles in their overall development. Several innovative schemes have been introduced to prevent and control the occurrence of disabilities and their after-effect. Many step have been taken to access the rehabilitation services through the recognized and registered Non-Governmental Organizations.

A persons who have 40% disabilities who are eligible to receive disability certificate and national identity card which are the basic documents for all the differently abled persons to get benefit under the various schemes. Every Monday during the Collector grievance day meeting Identity Card is issuing to the eligible differently abled persons in Thanjavur district. So far 41344 National Identity cards were issued to the differently abled persons in Thanjavur District and the details are below.

PARTICULARS OF NATIONAL IDENTITY CARD AND WELFARE BOARD CARD ISSUED

TAMIL NADU WELFARE BOARD FOR THE DIFFERENTLY ABLED PERSONS

Tamil Nadu welfare board has been re constituted by including new members. The Board implements the social security and and welfare schemes for the differently abled persons.

EARLY INTERVENTION CENTRES FOR THE DIFFERENTLY ABLED CHILDREN:

Research in child development has shown that the rate of human learning and development is most rabid in the early stage of life. Early intervention is essential as the child may run the risk of missing an opportunity to learn during the early stage of readiness. With view to prevent disability among the infants and children, the Government has taken an initiative to establish and run early intervention centres .

In Thanjavur district 3 Early intervention centres are running namely

1. Early Intervention Centre for Mentally Retarded.
2. Early Intervention Centre for Hearing Impaired.
3. Early Intervention Centre for Autism.

SPECIAL SCHOOLS

In Thanjavur district 16 Government and Non-Governmental special Schools are functioning for different category of disabilities under the control of the Differently Abled Welfare and 872 students studying there. Children studying in the Government special schools are given boarding, lodging facilities free of cost. Sports materials, teaching and learning materials are provided these special schools

HOMES

In Thanjavur district 3 Government and Non-Governmental homes are functioning for different category of disabilities under the control of the Differently Abled Welfare and is to protect and maintain the mentally ill persons, Leprosy Cured persons and Adult Mentally Retarded persons. Totally 152 inmates staying there. Inmates staying in the Government and Non-Governmental Homes are given boarding, lodging facilities free of cost.

SCHOLARSHIP

All the differently Abled children are given free education. Scholarship is provided to them to meet their incidental expenditure during the course of their education and amount provided varies with the standard and also reference to the UG courses, professional and other courses.

READERS ALLOWANCES

In order to encourage the learning process for the visually impaired students, the Government is providing readers allowance to those who are studying in 9^th standard and above up to post graduation level.

MAINTENANCE ALLOWANCES

Mentally Retarded Persons, Severely Affected Persons, Persons Affected with Muscular Dystrophy and leprosy affected persons are getting Maintenance Allowance Rs.1500/- per month. The Allowance sends through “ECS” directly from Treasury to bank account of the beneficiaries.

MICRO ENTERPRISES AND BUNK STALLS

The differently abled persons are motivated for establishing self employment ventures and micro enterprises by the department. They are assisted loans from the nationalized banks. A subsidy of Rs.10000/- or one third of the loan amount, whichever is less, is given to the differently abled persons to start self-employment ventures/enterprises.

NHFDC Assisted Self Employment Scheme

The state Government is taking effective steps to provide financial assistance for the self-employment Schemes sponsored by the national handicapped Finance and Development corporation (NHFDC), Government of India. The Government of India has appointed the tamil nadu state central co-operative bank limited as the channelizing agency for providing self-employment loan to the differently abled. In order to encourage a large number of differently abled persons to take up various economic activities for their upliftment and to avail the credit facilities from the nearby Co-operative banks, The State Government have launched the scheme of interest free loan for those availing the same from the co-operative Banks. the interest is borne by the State Government.

1. Prime Minister Employment Generation Programme

2. Unemployed Youth Employment Generation

Programme

In order to provide employment opportunities, bank loan is given to the differently abled persons for setting up of self employment enterprises. 5% share amount to be paid by them as margin money is borne by the State Government as grant.

MARRIAGE ASSISTANCE SCHEME

The State Government provides marriage assistance to encourage the able bodied persons to marry the differently abled persons. The marriage assistance includes Rs.25000/-and 8 grams of gold coin for making “Thirumangalyam” for bride. Differently abled persons who have completed graduation/ diploma, a sum of Rs.50000/- and 8 gram gold coin for making “Thirumangalyam” for bride.

CASH INCENTIVE SCHEME TO PREVENT DROP-OUTS

Cash incentives are provided to the differently abled students who are studying 10th to 12th standard in Government and Government aided Special schools for motivating them to continue their studies and to prevent drop-outs.

Salary Grant to Special Educators Working In Government Recognised Special Schools for The Mentally Retarded and Hearing Impaired

Special educators working in the Government recognized special schools for the Mentally Retarded and Hearing impaired are provided with salary grant of Rs.10000/- each per month for 12 months. Salary grant is provided to 3 special educators for Hearing Impaired schools and 2 special educator, 1 Physiotherapist for Mentally retarded Schools.

RESCUE SCHEME

Mentally ill persons left unattended by the family and found wandering in the streets and other public places are rescues and admitted in the hospitals/ rehabilitation homes for the mentally ill. This scheme is implemented through Non-Government Organizations.

Travel Concession To The Differently Abled Persons In State Owned Transport Corporation Buses

Travel Concession is provided to the differently abled persons to travel in the state owned transport corporation buses without any income ceiling. Differently abled students studying in the special schools are permitted to travel without cost from their residence to special school and back their residence. The visually impaired persons are also permitted to travel without charges in the Government Transport corporation buses upto 100 Kms from their residence without any condition.
All other differently abled persons are permitted to avail travel concession with certain conditions in order to pursue their education, visit, hospitals, and training centers and to undertake employment. The Persons with mental retardation are permitted to travel along with one escort free of cost.

All Categories of differently abled persons are permitted to avail 75% concession on travel to any place in the state in all types of buses except air-conditioned bus without any restrictions on the number of trips. 75% concession is also given to the escort who accompanies the differently abled persons who cannot travel alone.

All categories of children with disabilities are permitted to travel free of cost along with one escort from the residence to early intervention centers and the pre-schools and back to their residence.

MOBILE THERAPY UNIT

Differently abled children in the age group of 0-6 years along with their escorts find it difficult to reach the early intervention centers which are located in the district headquarters. In order to help such children mobile therapy unit is deployed in Thanjavur district. In this unit, all the required therapy equipments are provided and service are rendered at the door steps of the beneficiaries. By using the mobile therapy units, local camps and awareness programmes for the differently abled persons are conducted to ensure preventive care.

Assistive Devices to the Differently Abled Persons

Following aids and appliances are provided and distributed to the differently abled persons, based on their needs every year through the department to enable them to lead an independent life.

1. Wheel Chairs
2. Goggles
3. Folding Stick
4. Braille Watches
5. Hearing Aids
6. Solar rechargeable batteries
7. Calipers
8. Crutches
9. Artificial Limb
10. Trycycles

Caliper and artificial limb are designed, fabricated and fitted by orthotic technicians along with the leather workers for each and every individual as per the need of the units of District Differently Welfare Office Functioning in Thanjavur district.

MODULAR AIDS AND APPLIANCES

1. Retro – fitted petrol scooters
2. Behind the ear hearing aid
3. Modified cerebral palsy wheelchairs
4. (d) Magnifiers for low vision Students
5. Special Wheel chair for spinal cord affected persons.

Universal Disability Identity Card (UDID)

All the differently abled persons whom apply for the Universal Disability ID card (UDID) through on line process and details to upload at www.swavlambancard.gov.in After verification of the data’s and certificates UDID card will be generated and send it by post to the individual. So far 7230 differently abled persons were uploaded their data’s in Thanjavur District.

Legal Guardianship Certificate

National Trust is Constituted through an Act of Parliament in the year 1996 for the welfare of persons with Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Mental Retardation, and Multiple Disabilities.

As per National Trust Act, 1999, appointment of legal Guardians for Disabled person by the local level Committee under section 13-17. The level Committee consists of three members committee headed by District Collector of District Magistrate, a NGO and a person with Disability. LIC is a quasi judicial body which medicals on Legal Guardianship for the protection of rights of person with above disabilities.

Office Address:

District Differently Abled Welfare Office
Room No.14, Ground Bloor,
Collectiorate Building Campus,
Thanjavur.613010 Phone: 04362-236791
Office Mail: ddawotnj[at]gmail[dot]com