Physical disability rate down in the country: Meira

New Delhi, May 15 (UNI) Immunisation campaigns against polio and other prevention measures have brought down the physical disability rate from two per cent to 1.85 per cent in rural areas and from 1.6 per cent to 1.5 per cent in urban areas during the past decade.

The decline was largely due to measures such as polio immunisation campaigns and provision of nutritional supplement through vitamin A to prevent blindness, Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment Meira Kumar told the meeting of Parliamentary Consultative Committee attached to her Ministry here.

As per the 2001 Census, there are approximately two crore people with disabilities in the country. With increasing life expectancy and industrialisation, ageing related and accident related disabilities respectively are likely to increase.

The Minister said that although the Persons with Disabilities Act, 1955 provides for prevention and early detection of handicaps as well as empowerment of the persons with disabilities, the country did not have a formally stated policy on persons with disabilities.

Ms Kumar said the National Policy for Persons with Disabilities had been finalised and steps were being taken for its implementation. She said "the policy gives a clear direction regarding the actions to be taken to provide the disabled with a life of equal opportunities and of dignity." She informed the Members that income eligibility limit for the ADIP scheme had been recently revised to provide various assistive devices to a larger number of affected persons. For availing 100 per cent concession, income eligibility limit has been raised from Rs 5,000 to Rs 6,500 per month and for 50 per cent concession from Rs 8,000 to Rs 10,000 per month.

''We are also emphasising that at least 25 per cent of the beneficiaries under this scheme should be women to provide them adequate coverage," she added.

On creating a barrier-free environment, the Minister said financial constraints of the government came in its way but "recently we have been playing a pro-active role".

Ms Kumar said the Delhi Transport Corporation had been provided financial assistance to make 52 stops on route no 620 barrier-free following introduction of high capacity accessible buses on this route.

Further, the Delhi University, Jawaharlal Nehru University, Jamia Milia Islamia university and Indira Gandhi National Open University have been assisted to make their important buildings specially library and hostels, barrier free.

During the meeting, it was stated that more than 9,500 cases on various issues pertaining to persons with disabilities were registered at the initiative of the Court of the Chief Commissioner with 97 per cent disposable rate. These cases ranged from issues like harassment to accessibility to employment and other facilities.

The intervention of the Chief Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities had not only helped complainants in getting relief but also has facilitated appointment of disabled persons to premier civil services.

The timely intervention and prompt decisions by the Chief Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities have resulted in students with disabilities securing admission in medical, engineering, management and other professional courses.

The Members called for creating widespread awareness about the programmes and schemes among the target groups and suggested introduction of yoga therapy at the district level.

The Members of Parliament, Virchandra Paswan and Mohan Jena, the Secretary, Social Justice and Empowerment, Sarita Prasad, and the Chief Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities, Dr Manoj Kumar, participated in the meeting held last week.

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