Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment

Assistance to Disabled Persons for Purchase / Fitting of Aids / Appliances

Objective

The main objective of the Scheme is to assist the needy disabled persons in procuring durable, sophisticated and scientifically manufactured, modern, standard aids and appliances that can promote their physical, social and psychological rehabilitation, by reducing the effects of disabilities and enhance their economic potential. The aids and appliances supplied under the Scheme must be ISI.

Financial assistance

The quantum of assistance and income limit under the ADIP scheme is as follows:

The scheme is implemented through implementing agencies such as the NGOs, National Institutes under this Ministry and ALIMCO (a PSU).

Eligibility of Implementing Agency

The following agencies would be eligible to implement the Scheme on behalf of Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, subject to fulfillment of laid down terms and conditions:

• Societies, registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860 and their branches, if any, separately.
• Registered charitable trusts
• District Rural Development Agencies, Indian Red Cross Societies and other Autonomous Bodies headed by District Collector/Chief Executive Officer/District Development Officer of Zilla Parishad.
• National/Apex Institutes including ALIMCO functioning under administrative control of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment/Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
• State Handicapped Development Corporations.
• Local Bodies- Zilla Parishad, Municipalities, District Autonomous Development Councils and Panchayats.
• Nehru Yuvak Kendras.

Grant-in-aid under the Scheme will not be given for commercial supply of aids/appliances.

The NGOs should preferably possess professional/technical expertise in the form of professionally qualified staff (from recognized courses) for the identification, prescription of the required artificial aids/appliance, and fitment and post-fitment care of the beneficiaries as well as the aid/appliance.

The NGO should also preferably possess infrastructure in the form of machinery/equipment for the fabrication, fitment and maintenance of artificial aid/appliance to be given to a disabled person under ADIP Scheme.

Implementing Organisations should network and establish linkages with medical colleges/district hospitals/rural hospitals/PHCs/fitment centers of ALIMCO/DRCs/ any other professionally competent agency to acquire/avail the requisite infrastructure for fitment and maintenance of aids/appliances distributed under ADIP Scheme available with these bodies. The Implementing Agencies shall also avail of the professional/technical expertise of above-mentioned agencies for fitment and post-fitment care of the beneficiaries as well as aids/appliances. National Institutes, fitment centers of ALIMCO and DDRCs functioning under the administrative control of Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment shall also assist DRDAs and other autonomous organizations to develop requisite manpower and infrastructure over a period of time to provide satisfactory service to the beneficiaries under the Scheme. Such organizations while applying for the grant under the Scheme shall produce sufficient proof of linkages with the professional agencies preferably in the form of a Memorandum of Understanding.

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Assistance for Skill Development of OBCs/DNTs/EBCs

Objective

The aim of this scheme is to involve the Voluntary Organization and National Backward Classes Finance and Development Corporation (NBCFDC) to improved educational and socio-economic conditions of the target group i.e. OBCs/DNTs/EBCs, with a view to upgrade their skill to enable them to start income generation activities on their own or get gainfully employed in some sector or the other.

Target Group and Eligibility Criteria

The beneficiaries who parents/guardians income from all sources including the income of beneficiary does not exceed Rs.1.00 lakh per annum are eligible under the Scheme.

Scope

Assistance under the scheme will be given to eligible voluntary organisations working for welfare of OBCs/DNTs/EBCs.

How to apply

The eligible new NGOs seeking grants shall apply to National Backward Classes Finance Development and Corporation (NBCFDC) from the financial year 2017-18.

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Free Coaching for SC and OBC Students

Objective

The objective of the Scheme is to provide coaching of good quality for economically disadvantaged Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Other Backward Classes (OBCs) candidates to enable them to appear in Competitive examination and succeed in obtaining an appropriate job in Public/Private sector.

The courses for which the Coaching will be imparted shall be as follows:

• Group A and B examinations conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), the Staff  Selection Commission (SSC) and the various Railway Recruitment Boards (RRBs);
• Group A and B examinations conducted by the State Public Service Commissions;
• Officers’ Grade examinations conducted by Banks, Insurance Companies and Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs)
• Premier Entrance Examinations for admission in (i) Engineering (eg. IIT-JEE),(ii) Medical, (iii) professional courses like Management (eg. CAT) and Law (eg. CLAT) and (iv) such other disciplines, Ministry may decide from time to time.
• Finishing courses/Job oriented courses for employment in the private sector like IT, Bio-technology etc. in need of soft skill and other professional courses specified by the Government from time to time.

Implementing Agencies

The Scheme will be implemented through the reputed institutions/centres run by the

• Central Government/State Governments/UT Administrations/PSUs/autonomous bodies under Central/State Governments;
• Universities (both Central and State including the Deemed Universities in the private sector) and,
• Registered private institutions/NGOs.

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Deendayal Disabled Rehabilitation Scheme

The umbrella Central Sector Scheme of this Ministry called the "Scheme to Promote Voluntary Action for Persons with Disabilities" was revised w.e.f. 01.04.2003 and was renamed as the "Deendayal Disabled Rehabilitation Scheme (DDRS)".

Objectives

• To create an enabling environment to ensure equal opportunities, equity, social justice and empowerment of persons with disabilities.
• To encourage voluntary action for ensuring effective implementation of the People with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities and Protection of Rights) Act of 1995.

Approach and Strategy

The approach of this Scheme is to provide financial assistance to voluntary organizations to make available the whole range of services necessary for rehabilitation of persons with disabilities including early intervention, development of daily living skills, education, skill-development oriented towards employability, training and awareness generation. With a view to inclusion of persons with disabilities in the mainstream of society and actualizing their potential, the thrust would be on education and training programmes. In order to achieve the objectives of the scheme the key strategies will be as follows:

• To enhance educational opportunities at all levels and in all forms and enlarge the scope of vocational and professional opportunities, income generation and gainful occupations.
• To support all such measures as may be necessary for promoting formal as well as nonformal employment and placement opportunities.
• To implement outreach and comprehensive Community Based Rehabilitation programmes in urban and rural environments.
• To support manpower development activities to train required personnel at different levels for all programmes/ projects/activities for persons with disabilities.
• To support the development, publication and dissemination of information, documentation and training materials.
• To set up well equipped resource centres at different levels. To promote and support the development of self-help groups, parent organizations and independent living.
• To encourage coordination, cooperation and networking and multi-sectoral linkages.
• To support people with disabilities in projects which are environment friendly and ecopromotive.
• To support construction and maintenance of buildings, provision of furniture and fixtures and installation and maintenance of machinery and equipment.
• To establish and support facilities for sport, recreation, leisure-time activities, excursions, creative and performing arts, cultural and socially inclusive activities.
• To support and facilitate the availability of appropriate housing, homes and hostel facilities.
• To support the conduct of surveys and other forms of epidemiological studies.
• To promote research in various development areas, innovative strategies, assistive devices and enabling technologies and support production of such devices ensuring quality control.
• To support effort to ensure protection of human, civil and consumer rights of persons with disabilities.
• To support legal literacy, including legal counseling, legal aid and analysis and evaluation of existing laws.
• To support such other measures, which may meet the needs of the persons with disability and fulfill the obligations as prescribed in the People with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities and Protection of Rights) Act of 1995.

Grants-in-aid to NGOs

To facilitate delivery of various services to persons with disabilities by voluntary organizations, the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment is administering DDRS scheme and providing grants-in-aid to NGOs for the following projects:-

• Vocational Training Centres
• Sheltered Workshops
• Special Schools for the Persons with Disabilities
• Project for Cerebral Palsied Children
• Project for Pre-School and Early Intervention and Training
• Home based Rehabilitation Program / Home Management Programme
• Project for Rehabilitation of Leprosy Cured Persons (LCPs)
• Project relating to Survey, Identification, Awareness and Sensitization
• Project for Community Based Rehabilitation
• Project for Human Resource Development
• Seminars / Workshops / Rural Camps
• Project for Legal Literacy, Including Legal Counselling, Legal Aid and Analysis and Evaluation of Existing Laws
• Environment Friendly and Eco-Promotive Projects for the Handicapped
• Grant for Purchase of Vehicle
• Construction of Building
• Grant for Computer
• Project for Low Vision Centres
• Half Way Home for Psycho-Social Rehabilitation of Treated and Controlled Mentally Ill Persons
• District Disability Rehabilitation Centres (DDRCs)

The maximum level of support could be up to 90% of the eligible amount of grant for the project.

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Grant-in-Aid to Voluntary Organizations working for Scheduled Castes

The main objective behind the scheme is to involve the voluntary sector and training institutions of repute to improve educational and socioeconomic conditions of the target group i.e. Scheduled Castes with a view to upgrade skill to enable them to start income generating activities on their own or get gainfully employed in some sector or the other.

The scheme has been revised w.e.f. 2021-22 as SHRESHTA.

Scope

The scheme SHRESHTA (Residential Education for Students in High Schools in Targeted Areas) aims at providing seats for the meritorious SC boys and girls in the best private residential schools in the country.

Financial Assistance

The grants under of this Mode will be provided for tuition fee and residential charges as required by the school, subject to a ceiling of Rs. 75,000/- per annum per student of class 9 and 10 and Rs. 1,25,000/- per annum per student of class 11 and 12.

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Integrated Programme for Older Persons

Under the umbrella scheme Atal Vayo Abhyuday Yojana, it seeks to improve the quality of life of the Senior Citizens by providing basic amenities like shelter, food, medical care and entertainment opportunities and by encouraging productive and active ageing through providing support for capacity building of State/ UT Governments/Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs)/Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) / local bodies and the community at large.

Scope

Assistance under the scheme will be given to the Panchayati Raj Institutions / local bodies and eligible Non-Governmental Voluntary Organizations for the following purposes:

• Programmes catering to the basic needs of Older Persons particularly food, shelter and health care to the destitute elderly;
• Programmes to build and strengthen intergenerational relationships particularly between children / youth and Older Persons;
• Programmes for encouraging Active and Productive Ageing;
• Programmes for proving Institutional as well as Non Institutional Care / Services to Older Persons;
• Research, Advocacy and Awareness building programmes in the field of Ageing; and
• Any other programmes in the best interests of Older Persons.

Financial Assistance

Up to 90% of the cost of the project indicated in the scheme will be provided by the Government of India and the remaining shall be borne by the Organization/ Institution concerned.

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Assistance to Voluntary Organizations for Prevention of Alcoholism and Substance (Drugs) Abuse and for Social Defence Services

The scheme is in the field of drug demand reduction. The Scheme has two parts viz.

• Assistance for the Prevention of Alcoholism & Substance (Drugs) Abuse
• Financial Assistance in the Field of Social Defence

Scope and financial assistance

The Scheme of Assistance for the Prevention of Alcoholism and Substance (Drugs) Abuse is being implemented for identification, counseling, treatment and rehabilitation of addicts through voluntary and other eligible organizations.

Under this scheme, financial assistance up to 90% of the approved expenditure is given to the voluntary organizations and other eligible agencies for setting up/running Integrated Rehabilitation Centre for Addicts (IRCAs), Regional Resource and Training Centres (RRTCs), for holding Awareness-cum-de-addiction camps (ACDC) and Workplace Prevention Programmes etc. In the case of North-Eastern States, Sikkim and Jammu & Kashmir, the quantum of assistance is 95% of the total admissible expenditure. The balance has to be borne by the implementing agency.

The Scheme of ‘General Grant-in-Aid Programme for Financial Assistance in the Field of Social Defence’ aims to support such initiatives of an innovative/pilot nature in the area of welfare and empowerment of the Ministry’s target groups, as cannot be supported under its regular schemes. Financial assistance is given up to 90% of the approved expenditure to the voluntary and other eligible organizations. In case of an organization working in a relatively new area where both voluntary and Government effort is very limited but the need for the service is very great, the Government may bear up to 100% of the cost.

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Source: Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment