Punarbhava-National Interactive Portal on Disability

The Kerala Government has set up ‘The Kerala State Handicapped Persons Welfare Corporation’ a Public Sector Undertaking registered under the Companies Act with the sole intention of organizing Welfare measures for the Handicapped

1. Reservation in

A. Government JOB: No reservation in State Government or P.S.U. However, 3% reservation has been made for the part time contingency posts. Similarly, 1% vacancies in worker class in the Government, Companies & corporations are reserved for physically handicapped.

B. In Educationl Institutions:

3 Seats are reserved in admission in arts & science college

3 Seats are reserved in engineering colleges

9 Seats are reserved in polytechnic colleges

5% Seats are reserved in junior technical school

5 Seats are reserved in ITI's

25% Seats to teacher in special school

C. In Rajiv One million Housing Scheme: Under this scheme 1% houses constructed for economic weaker section has been reserved for Physically Handicapped Persons.

2. Age relaxation: The upper age limit is relaxed by 10 years for handicapped persons for applying in Government jobs.

3. Scholarship/Stipend: Scholarship is given to the disabled whose parent's income is less than Rs.24000/–p.a the details of which are as follows:

In addition to the scholarship amount, the Orthopaedically Handicapped students are given @ Rs.25/– p.m. for the maintenance of Prosthetic/Orthotic Aids and Rs.50/–p.m as transportation allowance.

Scholarship to Mentally Retarded Children: Children upto the age of 21 studying in Pvt. Institutions whose parent's annual income is upto Rs.24,000/– are being paid scholarship @ Rs.60/–p.m. Dress allowance @ Rs.40/–p.A and school requisite allowance

4. Maintenance Allowance/Scholarship: (Through Institution/NGO)In case of Orthopaedically handicapped the additional allowance Rs.25/– for purchase & maintenance of prosthesis appliances shall be paid on the recommendations of the head of the Institutions.

5. Disability pension/Social security pension: Blind Deaf, OH and MR persons whose annual family income does not exceed Rs.3,600/– are granted disability pension @ Rs.85/– P.M.

6. Conveyance allowance: Rs.100/– for Blind and P.H. employees of aided schools and Government departments and Rs.50/– to part time employee is given (vide G.O. (P) No. 521/87/Fin. Dt. 15.6.87.)

7. Bus Concession: Free travel facility is provided to blind on Bus & Boat. Physically Buses. In private buses 70% concession to travel up to 40 k.m. are allowed to physically handicapped persons having 50% disability or above.

8. Assistance for self employment: Loans are being given to physically handicapped persons from banks through Kerala State Handicapped Welfare's Corporation for organizing self employment programmes and computerization of telephone booths, a subsidy of Rs.2000/– linked with bank loan will be given to each of the beneficiaries under this Scheme.

Apart from the above programmes, the Corporation is now running the following commercial units with the intention to give direct employment to handicapped persons:

A. Sowbhagya Department Store Trivandrum

B. Sowbhagya Department Store Calicut

C. Sowbhagya Extension Counter, MLA Quarters, Trivandrum

D. Photocopier Unit, MLA Quarters, Trivandrum

E. Envelop making unit, Trivandrum.

9. Grace marks in examination: Up to 10 at the discretion of the Public Service Commission for direct recruitment to the various posts except which are specifically excluded.

10. Awards/Sports/Seminars:

A. State awards are given to the outstanding employees among the physically handicapped and the most efficient PH employees. The existing grant amount is Rs.3,000/– per head.

B. There is a scheme to give away state awards to institutions in recognition to the meritorious services rendered for different categories of handicapped.

11. Assistance for purchase of aids & appliances: Under this scheme, handicapped persons within the income ceiling of Rs.12000/– p.a. will receive the benefit. Aids and appliances like artificial limbs, hand operated tricycles, wheel chairs, calipers, including internal artificial devices, crutches, hearing aids, while canes, calipers, including internal artificial devices, crutches, hearing aids, white canes, goggles etc. are supplied free of cost to eligible persons.

12. Exemption in professional/road tax: Handicapped persons get exemption in professional/road tax.

13. Other facilities:

A. Additional income tax exemption: Handicapped persons get additional income tax exemption of Rs.5,000/–

B. Vocational training: There are 2 vocational training centers run by the Government. One in Thiruvananthapuram and other in Kozhikode.

C. Special causal leave: 15 days treatment of illness which is directly connected with the handicapped.
(Vide G.O. (P) 249/84/Fin. Dt. 9–5–84.)

D. Supply of motorized Tricycles: Handicapped persons having a regular and reasonable income and who are to travel frequently in connection with their job are given subsidy of Rs.2000/– per beneficiary linked with bank loan for procuring motorized tricycles/vehicles.

E. Distress Relief Fund: For providing distress relief to the handicapped persons, a distress relief fund has been constituted in the State vide G.O. (MS) No. 4/95/SWD dt. 24/1/95. The maximum amount of relief under the scheme is Rs.2,000/– in a case in a financial year. But in a very exceptional case, the limit can be extended upto Rs.8,000/– Handicapped persons, whose annual income does not exceed Rs.12,000/– shall be eligible for financial assistance for the following purpose.

1. For medical treatment including operation

2. To persons who become handicapped due to accident.

3. For any other purpose which are not covered under by existing schemes for handicapped.

F. Physically handicapped person who attend tests and interviews are given TA as per the existing rule.

Concerned Officer:

The Director,

Social Welfare,

Vikas Bhavan, Thiruvananthapuram

Kerala– 635 033