Social Welfare Department, Mizoram
Social Welfare was created as a small wing under Education Department during 1973 – 74 with one State Social Welfare Officer, one District Social Welfare Officer and a skeleton supporting staff. During 1974-75, the Social Welfare Wing was strengthened by posting one Programe Officer. This was further strengthened by creating two more posts of District Social Welfare Officers with minimum supporting staff for Lunglei and Chhimtuipui Districts during 1979 – 80. Today, as many as 506 staff belonging to different grades are working in the Department, covering the whole of Mizoram. The Department of Social Welfare has been taking up various schemes for the upliftment of women and children, handicapped persons, old age persons, management of correctional institutions and social defense, strengthening of voluntary organizations and development of rural infrastructure.
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Welfare of Handicapped
Under this programme, the following schemes have been implemented -
(a) Economic Rehabilitation: Under the scheme, handicapped persons are given assistance in kind as well as in cash for self-employment.
(b) Prosthetic Aids: Handicapped persons are given aids and appliances in the form of artificial limbs, Hearing Aids Wheel Chairs etc. according to the individualneeds.
(c) Stipend to Handicapped students: Handicapped students who are enrolled in educational Institution are awarded stipend as per rate below:-
1) Class I to IV @ Rs 30/- p.m. per student
2). Class V to VII @ Rs 40/- p.m. per student
3) Class VIII to Class XII @ Rs 85/- p.m. per student
(d) Disability Pension: Disabled persons (permanent disabled) like bed ridden, totally blind, loss of both legs and hands are given monthly pension @ Rs 250/- p.m. per disabled person.
(e) Handicapped Training Centre: Separate training centres for male and female handicapped have been set up at Aizawl and Lunglei. Under this scheme, physically handicapped persons are given Vocational Training in the field of Tailoring, knitting and Shoe making for their future earning of their livelihood. There are two centres for both Male and Female at Aizawl. Hostel facility is made available for those in need. These Centres has a capacity of 30 inmates for girls and 20 inmates for male. Duration of the training period is 1 (one) year and on completion of the training each trainee is given Certificate and Sewing Machine/Cobbler tools free of cost.
(f) Unemployment Allowance: Disabled persons who are registered in Employment Exchange for more than two years and who could not be placed in any gainful occupation are given Unemployment allowance @ Rs 250/- per head.
Indira Gandhi National Disability Pension Scheme: This scheme came into existence from February 2009.
Eligibility Criteria -
(A) For purpose of claiming central assistance, the following criteria shall apply
i) The age of disabled shall be between 18-64 yrs
ii) The applicant must belong to a household below the poverty line according to the criteria prescribed by the Government of India.
iii) The applicant should be suffering from severe or multiple disabilities as defined in ‘Persons with Disabilities Act, 1995 Act (PWD Act 1995) and the ‘National Trust for the Welfare of Persons with Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Mental Retardation and Multiple Disabilities Act, 1999 (National Trust Act 1999) revised from time to time and any other guidelines issued by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment in this regard.
(B) For the purpose of defining severe or multiple disabilities the following may be considered :-
- As per clause (i) of section 2 of the PWD Act, Disability’ means (i) blindness, (ii) low vision, (iii) leprosy cured, (iv) hearing impairment, (v) loco motor disability, (vi) mental retardation and (vii) mental illness.
- As per clause (t) of section 2 of the PWD Sec, ‘persons with disability’ means a person suffering from not less than forty percent of any disability as certified by medical authority.
- As per clause (4) of Section 56 of the PWD Act, “Person With Severe disability” means a person with eighty percent or more of one or more
- iv) As per clause (h) of section 2 of the National Trust Act, ‘Multiple Disabilities’ means combination of two or more disabilities as defined in clause (i) of section 2 of Persons With Disabilities (Equal Opportunities Protection of Right and Full Participation) Act, 1995.
- (C) For the purpose of certification of disabilities covered under the scheme, the following may be considered :-
i) The applicant shall submit a medical certificate from ‘medical authority’ as per the provision of clause (p) of section 2 of the PWD Act and para B (ii)
ii) The findings of the competent medical authority on the extent of disability would be treated final.
(D) The State Government will facilitate in obtaining the certificate of severe or multiple disability of such persons who applies for assistance under the scheme by inviting the medical authority at Block/ Tehsil/ Mandal level or as admissible so that distance may not act as deterrent and such persons do not face harassment.
Amount of pension: The Central assistance under IGNDPS will be provided at the rate of Rs. 200 per month per beneficiary. The State Governments are urged to contribute at least equally towards the pension amount.
NPRPD: State Referral Centre for only Mentally Retarded whereas the Presbyterian Hospital, Durtlang is declared as State Referral Centre for all other Disabilities. These State Referral Centres deal with cases referred by the District Rehabilitation Centre.