Odisha Sate Policy

INTRODUCTION

A welfare state has a commitment to promote overall development of its citizens including those with disabilities so that they will be enabled to lead lives of equality, freedom, and justice and dignified as mandated the Constitution of India. With today’s changed of perception society towards persons with disabilities, they can lead a better life, if they have equal opportunities and effective access to rehabilitation measures Several schemes and Programmes are being implemented in the State in order to facilitate the disabled persons to reap benefit from growing socio-economic environment. Pension scheme for the disabled, special school for education of the disabled children, scholarship and stipend to continue with higher studies, selfemployment Programmes, reservation in jobs and educational institutions and reservation in poverty alleviation Programmes are some of the measures, implemented for the welfare of the persons with disabilities. However much more remains to be attended to in this area. It is imperative to create environment for persons with disabilities to live with dignity and self esteem.

2. According to Census 2001,there are 10.21 lakh persons with disabilities in Orissa who constitute 2.77 percent of the total population of the state. This includes persons with visual, hearing speech, locomotor, mental disabilities. The earlier emphasis on medical rehabilitation has now been replaced with greater focus on comprehensive coordinated socio-economic rehabilitation. There is a growing trend to recognise the abilities of persons with disabilities in different professions involving them in each and every developmental programme. In exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (i) and Sub-section (2) of Section 73 of PWD Act, 1995, The State Government has enacted Persons with Disabilities (Equal opportunities, Protection of right and full participation) Orissa Rules, 2003 to carry out basic objectives of PWD Act, 1995 like guidelines for evaluation of various disabilities, constitution of State Co-ordination Committee and State Executive Committee, recognition of Institutions for persons with disabilities, appointment of Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities etc. besides implementation of provisions of National Legislation like National Trust Act ,1999 and Rehabilitation Council of India Act, 1992.

3. Extensive infrastructure has been developed on Teachers Training in Special Education by establishing Teachers Training Institutions in collaboration with National Institutions. The following three training institutions are functioning for development of manpower in different areas of special education namely;

  • Training Centre for the Teachers of Visually Handicapped, Bhubaneswar
  • Training Centre for the Teachers of Deaf, Bhubaneswar
  • Training Centre for the Teachers of Mentally Retarded, Bhubaneswar Besides, State Government has recognized institutions running courses like Bachelor in Audiology Speech Language Pathology, and Bachelor in Physiotherapy. In order to assess infrastructure, faculties, land and building of institutions running Bachelor in Physiotherapy course, for their recognition and institutions applied for issue of No Objection Certificate to start the course, an Expert Committee has been constituted.

4. State Institute for Disability Rehabilitation, Bhubaneswar and District Disability Rehabilitation Centres at Khurda, Kalahandi, Sambalpur, Koraput, Ganjam and Kandhamal provide various kinds of rehabilitation services to persons with disabilities.

5. Mahila Vikas Samabaya Nigam (MVSN), State channelising agency of National Handicapped Finance and Development Corporation (NHFDC) has been providing loans on concessional terms for undertaking self-employment ventures by the persons with disabilities.

6. With a view to forming SHGs of persons with disabilities for taking up group economic activities and wider coverage of identified population, Mission Kshyamata functions in the state.

7. A quarterly news letter ‘Kshyamata Samachar’ is being published to make aware on concessions and facilities for persons with disabilities and excellent achievements of persons with disabilities, remarkable contribution of organizations in the sector and new initiatives to aware public in general and persons with disabilities in particular.

8. The objectives of the Policy

i) Addressing Rehabilitative Health Care of infants and children
ii) Early identification and cure of disabilities
iii) Addressing Geriatric disabilities
iv) Convergence with SSA for infrastructural andcurriculum development of Special schools
v) To bring about a better collaborative relationship between the NGOs and Government to enlarge the outreach and to ensure better functioning of the delivery system.
vi) Adopting target on development challenges for wider coverage of population
vii) Adoption of need based approach as opposed to demographic targets.
viii) Creation of trained manpower to meet the need in the sector.
ix) Promotion of community managed institutions
x) Co-ordination with Funding Agencies for their involvement in Identified Priorities.
xi) Identification and recognition of centre of excellence.
xii) To mobilize and involve various financial institutions to provide assistance
to Persons with disabilities for economic rehabilitation.
xiii) To bring about a proper co-ordination between the functions of the related departments of Government and to organize orientation and training of the development functionaries so that they are able to handle the problems of the disabled with imagination and understanding, with empathy and sensitivity.
xiv) Establish feasible partnership and networking with employers, corporate world, and employee’s associations/federations to ensure optimum placement of persons with disabilities in industries.

9. Implementation strategies on priorities

(i) Provision of public services on adopting universal access approach.
(ii) Co-ordination with Community Based Organization for wider coverage.
(iii) Involvement of Corporate sector for inclusion of disability welfare programme under their peripheral development programme
(iv) Mobilization for support of society and parents for early intervention.

STATEMENT OF STATE POLICY

10. State policy recognizes that persons with disabilities are valuable human resource and every effort shall be made to create a conducive environment for their optimal development. The focus of the policy shall be on the following.

11. Prevention of Disabilities

It shall be the endeavor of State to take preventive measures by way of ensuring proper delivery of services in the field of health, immunization, hygiene, sanitation, maternity and childcare. Elaborate programme for pre-natal, neo-natal and post-natal care for the expectant and nursing mothers and children shall be undertaken by the state. The state shall strengthen measures for prevention of blindness and polio .The State, Shall extend the provision of nutritional support to the children in the primary schools by way of providing mid-day meal.

It shall be the endeavor of the state to promote measures for identification of early childhood disability through the field personnel working under the ICDS and ANMs followed by early intervention by provision of quality services.

12. Rehabilitation Measures

Rehabilitation measures can be classified into three distinct groups i) physical rehabilitation, which includes early detection and intervention, counseling and medical intervention and provision of aids and appliances. It will also include the development of rehabilitation professionals. (ii) Educational rehabilitation, including vocational education and (iii) economic rehabilitation for dignified life in society.

13. Physical Rehabilitation strategies

(a) Early Detection and Intervention

Early detection of disabilities followed by intervention shall be achieved by application of drug or non-drug therapies, which helps in minimization of impact of disabilities. Thus there will be emphasis on early detection and timely intervention. Required infrastructure and manpower will be created to achieve this end. Government will take the help of all available modes including media for dissemination of information on availability of such facilities with special focus for rural areas.

(b) Counseling and Medical Rehabilitation

Physical rehabilitation measures including counseling, strengthening capacities of persons with disabilities and their families, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, psychotherapy, surgical correction and intervention, vision assessment, vision stimulation, speech therapy, audio logical rehabilitation and special education shall be extended to cover all the districts of the state by active involvement of Government institutions, institutions of Urban local bodiesand corporate bodies, National Institutions, NGOs including parents and persons with disabilities.

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