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National and State Policies

State Policies for Persons with Disabilities

Goa State

Goa State policy and plan of action for differently abled persons

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Definition of Disabilities

“Disability” and “Persons with Disabilities” or differently abled persons for this statement are as defined in the Person with disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act, 1995” and any other statute enacted for the welfare of Persons with Disabilities.

Population of Persons with Disabilities or Differently abled Persons

According to the census 2001 there are 2.19 crores of differently abled persons in India, which constitutes 2.13 percent of total population. This includes persons with Visual, Hearing, Speech, Locomotor and mental Disabilities. In the State of Goa there are 15749 Differently abled Persons, of which there are 4910 Locomotor Disabilities, 4393 visually impaired, 1868 speech impaired, 1000 hearing impaired and 3578 persons with Mental Retardation. The percentage of differently abled population is around 1.17% as compared to the total population of the State of Goa.

Emerging Trends

It has been realized that majority of Differently abled Persons can lead a normal life if they have effective access to rehabilitation services, which would include early identification, intervention, education, vocational training, employment opportunities and the availability of Aids and Appliances.

Existing Law

In 1995, the Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunity, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act was promulgated. The State has framed its Rules in the year 1997.As provided under Act and Rules the Government of Goa has constituted State Coordination Committee under the Chairmanship of the Hon’ble Minister of Social Welfare (Annexure-1) and State Executive Committee under the Chairmanship of the Secretary (Social Welfare) (Annexure-2). The Secretary (Social Welfare) is also designated the State Commissioner of Disability (Annexure-3) and both the collectors as Additional Commissioners of Disabilities (Annexure-4 ) for monitoring and implementation of various provisions of the Act.

The Government of India enacted the National Trust for Welfare of Person with Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Mental retardation and Multiple Disability Act, 1999. The objectives of the Act is to provide support to the creation of enabling climate for an independence as is possible and to provide for assistive decision making wherever essential. A Board has been constituted by Government of India to discharge the function as enshrined in the Act. The State Government has constituted a Local Level Committee under the Act. (Annexure-5).

State Policy Statement

The State policy recognizes that “Differently abled Persons” are on important resource for the state and seeks to create on environment that provides them equal opportunities, protection of rights and full participation in society. The policy shall specifically focus on the following.

Prevention and Early Detection

Since disability in large number of cases, is preventable there will be strong emphasis on prevention of disabilities. Early detection of disability and early intervention helps in minimization of impact of Disability. Therefore, there will be emphasis on early detection and intervention. Necessary, facilities including dissemination of information shall be ensured to enable such detection and necessary intervention. Rehabilitation services including counseling, strengthening capacities of persons with disabilities & their
families, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, surgical correction and intervention shall be extended to cover all the talukas in the State by action involvement and participation of Local Level Institution, N.G.O.s including associates of Parents of Differently abled Persons.

Education

There is a need for mainstreaming of the persons with disabilities in the general education system through inclusive education. Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) launched by the Government of India has the goal of eight years of elementary schooling for all the children including children with disabilities in the age group of 6-14 years by 2010. The State has joined the SSA in the year 2005. Under the scheme a shelf of education options learning aids and tools, mobility assistance, support services, etc. are available for children with disabilities. This include education through an open learning system and open Educational Institutions, alternatives schooling, distance education, home bases education, remedial teaching, part time classes, community bases rehabilitation (CBR) and vocational education and cooperative programmes. The programme also envisages augmentation of teaching skill and capabilities of teachers. The Government of Goa has introduce a scheme in which Government is providing stipend & scholarship to the students with disabilities for pursuing studies at school level as well as college level including professional vocational courses. The State Government also introduced a holistic scheme in the year 2005 through the Education
Department in which State provides traveling allowance, escort allowance, books, uniform and stationary to the parents of students with disabilities. Also the state Government attendance allowance to the Educational Institutions for improvement of attendance in the school (Annexure-6).

The Government has also notified additional time to be given to the students while answering the examinations.

Employment for persons with Disabilities

Differently abled Person shall be provided equal opportunities for production and gainful employment. The State Government has ensured through executive instructions that three percent reservation for persons with Disabilities is provided against identified posts in accordance with statutory requirements (Annexure-7).

1. Employment in private sector shall be encouraged for Differently abled persons by development of appropriate skill for their employability opportunities for self employment and by developing a package of incentives that would help in creating opportunities for them in this sector.

2. Best Employer will be given an Award of amounting Rs.25000/- who has sympathy towards employees/Disabled employee, 3% Disabled Person in organization, barrier free Access and equal service condition than other normal employees additional facilities of transport/ housing.

3. Best Employees will be given three awards (One of each category i.e. visual disabled, hearing disabled and physically disabled.) amounting Rs.25000/-on the basis of performance of last 3 years records.

4. To encourages the self employment by the differently abled person the State Government also provide financial assistance to the Differently abled persons.

Barrier free environment

Public building / Places / transportation system, etc. shall be made barrier free through design changes, use of appropriate materials and strict adherence of building bye laws, space standards for barrier free built environment by 2008.

Best District will be given an Award amounting Rs.25000/- who totally implements Persons With Disabilities Act, 1995 in the District and take Initiative for rehabilitation. Assistive Devices for Differently abled Persons.

The State Government has been assisting the Differently abled persons in procuring durable and scientifically manufactured modern standard aids and appliances that can promote their physical social and psychological rehabilitation by reducing the effects of disabilities. Every year the Differently abled Persons with be provided with devices such as prosthesis and orthoses, mobility aids, such as tricycles, wheel chairs, surgical footwear and devices for activities of daily living, learning materials, low vision aids, special mobility aids, various types of hearing aids, educational kits and other assistive devices suitable for the Differently abled persons including persons with mental disabilities. The availability of devices will be accelerated to uncovered and un-serviced areas.

Disability Certificate

The State Government has notified guidelines for evaluation of disabilities and procedure for Certification. Formats for issue of disability Certificate has also been prescribed under these guidelines. The disabilities certificate are issued by the Medical Board notified by the State Government (Annexure-8).

The Government will ensure that the Differently abled Persons obtain the disability Certificate without any difficulty in the shortest possible time by adoption of simple transparent and client friendly procedures.

Social
Security for Persons with Disabilities.
Differently abled persons, their families and care givers incur substantial additional expenditure for facilitating

activities of daily living, medical care, transportation assistive devices, etc. Therefore, there is a need to

provide them social security by various means. The State Government is providing disability pension to the

differently abled persons for their life time irrespective of their age under Dayanand Social Security Scheme.

The State Government is also providing Award to the persons who select Differently abled his/ her life partner. The

State Government also reserves the flats constructed by the Goa Housing Board for the Differently abled persons

(Annexure-9) and also notified landless Differently abled persons as one of the category for the purpose of the

Article 334-A of the Legislative Diploma No.2070 (Code of Communidade ) (Annexure-10).

Promotion of Non Governmental Organizations (NGO’s)
The Director of Social Welfare has been notified the competent authority under section 50 PWD Act. The NGO sector

is a vibrant and growing one and has played a significant role in the provision of the services for the differently

abled. Voluntary efforts will be promoted and supported and effort will be made for interaction with NGO’s on

disability issues and on services to be provided. Networking exchange of information and interaction among NGOs

will be encouraged and facilitated within the constraints of available resources. The State Government also provide

financial assistance to the NGO working in the field of Differently abled persons.

    * To encourage & promote – early detection, prevention to directive [Rs.20000/- to 2,00,000/-]
    * Assistance to organization for differently abled with cerebral mental retardation [100% of approved cost

recurring and non recurring expenditure]
    * Assistance to NGO for special school for differently abled [90% of approved cost on recurring Expenditure &

upto 10 lakhs for construction of building]
    * Assistance to NGO to cater the special problem of differently abled [90% of approved cost on recurring

Expenditure & upto 10 lakhs for construction of building]
    * Best NGO (One) Award amount Rs.25000/-
          o Who works in large number of years for Disabled Persons under Persons with Disabilities Act 1995.
          o Started New practices achievement in the field of Training/Education/Rehabilitation assist to Govt.

Departments motivating to General Public, specially in rural areas to rehabilitate to disabled persons provided

Aids to the disabled Persons giving other initiatives.

Collection of regular information on Differently abled Persons
The census 2001 has collected the information on Differently abled Persons. There is a need for regular collection

of information related to Socio Economic conditions of Differently abled Persons. The state Government will obtain

the information at least once in five years on employment status of Differently abled Persons.

A Data base of the persons with disability will be prepared and the important information will be made available on

the comprehensive web site for Differently abled persons which will be created under the Department of Social

Welfare.

Transport
The State Government is providing Rs.100/- P.M. conveyance allowance to its Differently abled employees. The State

also provide free transport in State on public Transport and 15 ltrs. of petrol / diesel or 50% cost whichever is

less to assist the differently abled persons to use the vehicle to the place of work and rehabilitation

centre.Research

The Government will encourage and support research for improving the quality of life for Differently abled persons.

The research will be supported on their Socio Economic and Cultural Context, reasons for incidence of

Disabilities, development of user friendly aids and appliances and matters connected with disabilities in which

research is considered necessary.Sports and Recreation

Differently abled Persons have the right to access sports and recreation facilities. The Government will take

necessary steps to provide them opportunity for participation in various sports and recreational activities.Media

The Government will take necessary steps to create awareness about the benefit and facilities available for the

Differently abled persons.