Education and Employment for Disabled

As per the Census 2001, there were a total of 21.9 million persons with disabilities in the country out of which 10.8 million were reported to be literate. 

Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) ensures that every child with special needs, irrespective of the kind, category and degree of disability, is provided meaningful and quality education. Hence, SSA has adopted a zero rejection policy. This means that no child having special needs should be deprived of the right to education and taught in an environment, which is best, suited to his/her learning needs. 

SSA provides upto Rs. 3000 per child for the inclusion of disabled children, as per specific proposal, per year. District plan for children with special needs is formulated within the Rs. 3000 per child norm, with Rs. 1000 earmarked exclusively for engagement of resource teachers. The interventions under SSA for inclusive education are identification, functional and formal assessment, appropriate educational placement, preparation of Individualised Educational Plan, provision of aids and appliances, teacher training, resource support, removal of architectural barriers, research, monitoring and evaluation and a special focus on girls with special needs. 

A centrally sponsored scheme of “Inclusive Education for Disabled at Secondary Stage (IEDSS) has been implemented since 1-4-2009 to enable disabled children to pursue four years of secondary schooling (class IX to XII) in an inclusive and enabling environment in Government, local body and Government aided general schools in regular schools. 

As per Section 33 of the Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act, 1995, it is incumbent upon the Government to appoint in every establishment such percentage of vacancies not less than 3% for persons or class of persons with disability in the posts identified for each of the following disabilities :- 

(i) Blindness or low vision 

(ii) Hearing Impairment, and 

(iii) Locomotor Disability or Cerebral Palsy 

Government conduct Census every ten years through which data regarding persons with disabilities is also obtained.