Andhra Pradesh

Schemes for PWDs

Head Quarters Office:

The Commissioner, Disabled Welfare is the Head of the Department. He is assisted by two Deputy Directors and two Assistant Directors in discharging administrative, planning and executive functions. Three more officers namely one Accounts Officer, one Placement Officer and one Physical Director also will assist the Commissioner to discharge various other functions.

District Offices:

District Collectors are mainly implementing the schemes of the Disabled Welfare Department in the districts with the assistance of Assistant Directors, Welfare of Disabled. The schemes mainly implemented at district level are maintenance of Government Hostels, Homes, sanction of various types of scholarships, supply of Nationalised text books, note books to students, rehabilitation etc.

OTHER OFFICES:

INSTITUTIONS

a) Hostels / Homes:

40 Hostels and 3 Homes are functioning in the State. The boarders/inmates are paid cosmetic charges towards soaps and hair oil @Rs.20/- per month for boys/men and Rs.25/- per month for girls/women. Clothing allowance is sanctioned @Rs.230/- and Rs.40/- stitching charges per annum for each boarder/inmate.

All the boarders are supplied with exercise notebooks and Student stationary like geometry boxes, scales, maps etc. at a cost of Rs.150 /- per boarder per annum. They are also supplied all the textbooks upto X Class free of cost. They are also provided with Trunk boxes, Bedding materials etc.

Note on Schemes Implemented by Department for Welfare of Disabled and Senior Citizens

I) EDUCATION:

  • 11 Special Residential Schools, 10 for Visually Handicapped, and 12 for Hearing Handicapped are functioning under the control of Department for the welfare of Disabled and Senior Citizens.

  • 2 Residential junior colleges one each for Hearing Handicapped and visually handicapped (120 Inmates)

  • Providing residential facilities for students through 40 Hostels under disabled Welfare Depart and 5 Special Schools 3 VH and 2 HH under School education Department.

Pre-Matric Scholarships:

Disabled students studying classes from I to x and whose parents’ / guardians’ income is less than Rs.1,00,000/- per annum are sanctioned scholarships and other allowances like transport allowances, allowance for maintenance of prosthetic/orthopedic aids per month to O.H students and reader allowances to VH students as detailed below.


Other Allowances
 

Transport Allowance per month
(for O.H. only)

Maintenance of Prosthetic/ Orthopedic aids per month
(for O.H. only)

Readers Allowance per month
(for V.H. only)

 

1

2

3

4

5

 

Rs.

Rs.

Rs.

Rs.

I to V

70/-

50/-

25/-

25/-

VI to VIII

100/-

50/-

25/-

25/-

IX to X

182/-

50/-

25/-

50/-

(e) Braille Text Books are supplied for Class I to X (Pre-Matric) on free of cost.
(f) Note Books to Orthopedical and Hearing impaired Hostel Boarders at a cost of Rs.150/- per Boarder per annum and thick drawing sheets for writing purpose in Braille script to visually impaired students are supplied.
(g) Musical Instruments are supplied free of cost, (not exceeding Rs.1000/-) to students / professionals of Government/private (recognized) Music Colleges whose parents/guardians income is less than Rs.1, 00,000/-.
(h) Scholarship is sanctioned to Mentally Retarded Children admitted in to specialized schools run by relevant NGOs who do not get Grant in Aid from GOVT. of India and whose parents/guardian’s income is less than Rs.1.00.000/- per annum @ Rs.1,000/- per annum per child.
(i) Post matric scholar ships:-
Disabled students studying Intermediate and above classes and whose parental income is less than Rs.1,00.000/- are eligible on par with S.C Students as detailed below.


Sl.No

Group

Hosteller

Student Managed Hostel

Day Scholar

1

Group – I

962

442

429

2

Group – II

682

442

429

3

Group – III

520

325

240

4

Group – IV

520

325

182

(j) Books and instruments are supplied to I.T.I and Polytechnic students, whose Parents/guardians income is less than Rs1,00,000/- per annum.
(k) Total reimbursement of tuition fees and special fees is provided to the students studying Professionals courses, like M.B.B.S., B.E., B.Tech, M.B.A., Computer, B.Ed., etc for “A” category seats on par with scheduled caste students whose parents/guardians income is less than Rs.1,00,000/- per annum (G.O.Ms.No.21,WD CWD and DW (DW.A1) Dept. Dt. 3.7.2008.
(l) On the International day of Disabled i.e., 3rd day of December every year Games, sports and competitions in skill and talent for Disabled are conducted to bring them into the main stream of public life.
(m) Seven KGBV Schools were established (2 for VH and 5 for HH girls) in the Districts for providing educational benefits at the elementary level to the disabled girls.

Andhra Pradesh Vikalangula Cooperative Corporation:-

1) Job oriented Vocational training programs are being imparted through training and production centers in Technical and non – technical and vocational courses.
2) Aids and appliances such as Blind sticks, Crutches, Wheel Chairs, Tricycles, Calipers, hearing Aids, etc. are being supplied to the needy Disabled persons.
3) Education through Teaching and Learning Materials
4) Braille Press takes up publication of books for Visually Impaired
5) Introduction of computers to Visually Impaired through JAWS software etc. has been promoted.

(II) Economic Rehabilitation:

Under this scheme, the disabled persons whose parents / guardians income is less than Rs.11,000/- per annum are sanctioned subsidy not exceeding Rs.3.000/- per candidate to enable them to make a living.

During 2007-08 the Government have allocated an amount of Rs.88,00,000/- and an amount of Rs.77,04,000/- has been released to the districts. An expenditure of Rs.71,64,000/- has been incurred covering 2388 disabled persons.

During 2008-09 the Government have allocated an amount of Rs.1,98,00,000/- and an amount of Rs.99,10,000/- has been released to the districts for the 1st and 2nd quarters. An amount of Rs.72,14,000/- has been spent covering 2405 disabled persons. The 3rd and 4th quarter budget was not released by the Government.

(III) INCENTIVE AWARDS FOR MARRIAGES BETWEEN DISBLED AND NORMAL PERSONS:

To promote social integration, a sum of Rs.10.000/- as cash incentive award is sanctioned to a normal person marrying a disabled person after 1.4.2008 whose disability is atleast 40%.

(IV) COACHING FOR TYPEWRITING AND SHORTHAND EXMINATIONS AND OTHER COMPETITIVE EXAMINATIONS:

This scheme is being sanctioned in order to enhance employment opportunities for disabled persons whose parents / guardians’ income is less than Rs.1,00,000/- per annum.

(V) PURCHASE OF PETROL/DIESEL:

Disabled persons who are owners of motorized vehicles and having income up to Rs.24.000/- per annum are sanctioned 50% subsidy on actual expenditure on purchase of petrol / diesel to an extent of 15 ltrs for 2 horse power vehicle and 25 ltrs for more than 2 horse power vehicle to go to the place of duty and back to their residence. During the year 2008-09 Government have allocated an amount of Rs.49,000/- under this head. Out of which an amount of Rs.36,000/- has been released to the Districts. An amount of Rs.24,000/- has been incurred covering 20 disabled persons under the Scheme.

Pensions:- Pensions are being sanctioned to persons with disabilities irrespective of age who come under below poverty line. Under this scheme 7,90,471 persons with disabilities are sanctioned pension @ Rs.500/-p.m. spending Rs.39,52,35,500/- per month and Rs.4,74,28,26,000/- per annum.

Benefits for the disabled for Prevention and identification of disabilities:

  • Pulse Polio Immunization programme, Leprosy eradication programme, National Programme for control of blindness, National Mental Health programme, Integrated Child Development Services and Supplementary Nutrition programmes are all taken to prevent disabilities.

  • Multipurpose identification camps are being conducted to identify the disabled by Disabled and Senior Citizens.

Programmes taken up by School Education and Higher Education Departments for the benefit of the disabled

  • 70 Residential Bridge Centers are functioning for providing short term training for mainstreaming in to normal schools through Sarva Siksha Abhiyan.

  • For severely disabled persons home based training is provided to the siblings and parents under inclusive education.

  • 154 schools are being run by NGOs (32 for Visually Impaired, 40 for Hearing Impaired, 20 for Orthopaedically Disabled and 62 for Mentally Retarded children).

  • Free education is being provided till 18 years of age

  • 1,34,000 school going Disabled children are covered under Inclusive Education by School Education Department.
  • Disabled students are provided 5 Special Schools 3 for VH and 2 for HH under School Education Department.

  • The Government of Andhra Pradesh is providing 3% reservation of seats in favour of the disabled in all normal educational institutions. Apart from this the education department is also running integrated schools for normal and children with special needs under Sarva Siksha Abhiyan (Rajiv Vidya Mission).

  • 115 Integrated Education Centers for Disabled @ 5 in each district – 2 for Visually Handicapped and 3 for Hearing Handicapped have been sanctioned in the entire state under school education department.
  • The Govt. have issued orders allowing the students appearing for S.S.C. Public Examinations (i) extra time of 30 minutes to all blind candidates and other physically handicapped candidates and (ii) blind and physically handicapped candidates are exempted from drawing diagrams and location of boundaries and places etc. and allowed to give only the description, giving full weightage to the questions vide G.O.MsNo.1189, Education (K) Dept. dt.27.12.1976.

  • The Govt. extended the following benefits to the disabled students who are appearing for the 7th and 10th class public examinations vide G.O.Ms.No.33, Education (Exams) Dept. dt.19.3.2001.

    • The qualifying criteria and pass marks in final examinations, i.e., VII and X classes are reduced from 35 to 20 (Twenty) marks for all subjects for Blind and Deaf and Dumb students.
    • The jumbling system in examinations for all classes are abolished in respect of these students and trained teachers should only attend the valuation of answer papers.
    • The scribe for the Blind should have passed X standard.
  • The hearing impaired candidates studying Intermediate are exempted from (a) Payment of examination fee; (b) 30 minutes extra time at Intermediate Public Examination (I and II Year); and (3) Exemption of one language under Part-I or II (Procs.No.81/E-I/2001-2002, dt.9.4.2002 of the Commissioner and Secretary, Board of Intermediate Education, Hyderabad)

  • The blind students studying Degree are exempted from payment of tuition fee and examination fee vide G.O.Ms.No.154, Education (C1) Dept. dt.18.2.1975.

  • Government have extended the benefits of exemption from payment of examination fee and reduction of pass marks in each subject by 10% in favour of the disabled students (hearing impaired, orthopaedically handicapped and visually challenged) studying Engineering, Pharmacy, MBA and MCA courses vide G.O.Ms.No.150, Higher Education (EC-2) Dept. dt.31.8.2006 and G.O.Ms.No.152, Higher Education (EC-2) Dept. dt.22.8.2007.

  • The visually impaired students are provided with scribe during the course of examinations. They are also provided with Readers Allowance of Rs.50 to 100 per head per month ranging from Intermediate to professional course.

Reservations:

  • The APSRTC is providing free bus passes to all the disabled persons irrespective of age to travel within the City and Sub Urban areas and 50% concessional pass in all Rural Areas. Transport allowances of Rs.50/- per month per head is being provided to all Orthopaedically handicapped students apart from this.

  • The Government of Andhra Pradesh have identified jobs that are manned by the persons with disabilities vide G.O.Ms.No.145, W.D.C.W. and L (WH.Desk) Dept. dated 28.9.1992 for Group C and D Posts.

  • The Government of A.P. has provided reservation in favour of the disabled in Group-I and Group-II services vide G.O.Ms.No.297, WD, CW and DW Dept. dt.9.10.2006 and G.O.Rt.No.106, W.D.C.W. and D.W. (DW) Dept. dated 13.4.2007 respectively for Group A and B Posts.

  • 3% reservation is provided in favour of the disabled in employment and the reservation is trifurcated into 1:1:1 to the visually impaired, hearing impaired and Orthopaedically Handicapped vide G.O.Ms.No.115, W.D.c.W. and L (WH.Desk) Dept. dt.30.7.1991.

  • All departments are directed to set apart 3% of their budget for implementing self-employment programmes for disabled vide G.O.Ms.No. 24, dt:20.5.2002

  • Reservations of posts in services and age concession has been extended for 10 more years vide G.O.Ms.No.21, WD, CW and DW Dept., dt:29.4.2002

  • The Government of A.P. have launched the special recruitment drive for filling up of the backlog vacancies reserved for disabled in Government and public sector vide G.O.Ms.No.9, WDCW and DW Dept. dt.26.2.2002. And the period of special recruitment drive has been extended from time to time up to 31.3.2010. Till date, 2569 disabled are recruited through the special recruitment drive.

  • The Govt. of A.P. directed that all the departments and local authorities shall reserve not less than 3% in terms of physical and financial coverage in all poverty alleviation schemes for the benefit of the PWDs vide G.O.Ms.No.1, W.D. and D.W. (DW) Dept. dt.9.1.2002.

Further, the Govt. have also issued the following orders:-

  • Certain benefits to disabled persons in Housing Schemes in the State vide G.O.Rt.No.106, Housing (RH.I) Dept. dt.27.3.2008.
  • Enhancement of annual ceiling of parents / guardians to Rs.1,00,000/- for sanction of certain schemes to the eligible disabled students vide G.O.Ms.No.9, WDCW and DW Dept. dt.10.4.2008.
  • Enhancement of Diet Charges, Cosmetic charges, Supply of Uniforms and bedding material to inmates and boarders staying in Hostels, Homes, Residential Schools and attached Hostels of T.C.P.Cs. Of disabled persons etc. vide G.O.Ms.No.15, WDCW and DW (DW.A1) Dept. dt.7.6.2008.
  • Enhancement of Marriage Incentive Awards for marriages between differently abled and Normal persons from Rs.3000/- to Rs.10,000/- vide G.O.Ms.No.18, WDCW and DW Dept. dt.19.6.2008.
  • For availment of any number of different Concessions given for meeting different needs to differently abled persons vide G.O.Ms.No.19, WDCW and DW (DW.A1) Dept. dt.25.6.2008.
  • Sanction of direct loans to severely challenged students studying Post Graduate and Professional Courses to purchase motorized vehicle, sophisticated prosthetic aids etc. vide G.O.Rt.No.194, WDCW and DW (DW.A2) Dept. dt.30.6.2008.
  • Providing portable MP 3 CD Players to Visually Challenged students as an assistive device for promoting access to quality education and enhancing vide G.O.Rt.No.209, WDCW and DW (DW.A2) Dept. dt.9.7.2008.

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