The CM has agreed to remove roadblocks in providing more benefits to the disabled.
Chief Minister K Rosaiah on Friday agreed to amend any existing rules, if necessary, to remove roadblocks in providing more benefits to the disabled.
The Chief Minister's acquiescence came as he was presiding over the meeting of the State Coordination Committee On Disabled Welfare at the Secretariat, where he said that the government is actively condiering a proposal for providing reservation in promotions to disabled employees.
The agenda of the State Coordination Committee (SCC) comprises developing a state policy to address issues faced by Persons With Disabilities (PWDs; advising the government on the formulation of policies, programmes, legislation and projects with respect to disabled persons; suggesting steps to ensure barrier-free environment; performing such other functions as may be prescribed by the government; monitoring and evaluating the impacts of policies and programmes; and reviewing and coordinating the activities of all departments of the government and NGOs dealing with matters relating to PWDs.
The Chief Minister directed that all departments concerned, including local authorities, shall reserve not less than 3% in terms of physical and financial coverage in all poverty alleviation schemes for the benefit of PWDs.
The Chief Minister was informed that the Rural Development Department, in close coordination with the departments of Disabled Welfare and Medical & Health, with the help of HMRI, has evolved a scientific computer-aided disability assessment strategy. This software is called SADAREM (Software For Assessment Of Disabled For Access, Rehabilitation & Empowerment).
SADAREM assessment camps have started in 16 districts so far, and assessment camps in the remaining districts will be started on June 15. The assessment camps will be completed by December this year.
The CM was informed that portable MP3 CD players are being provided to visually challenged students as an assistive device for promoting access to quality education, and around 500 students pursuing post metric courses were being given these MP3 CD players. The government has also issued orders for providing laptops to visually challenged students.
Direct loans are being sanctioned to severely challenged students studying post graduate and professional courses to enable them to purchase motorised vehicles, sophisticated prosthetic aids etc. Pensions have been increased to persons with disabilities, irrespective of age, who are below the poverty line - at the rate of Rs. 500 per month - by the Rural Development Department.
The CM was informed that IT training was provided to 60 visually challenged people, of whom 45 have passed the certificate course examination of the State Board of Technical Education. Visually challenged students will undergo training to fill 58 stenographer posts.
Orders have been issued for sanctioning houses to unmarried disabled persons, treating them as separate unit, allotting houses to guardians of mentally retorted persons, making disabled-friendly type designs of all such flats/houses, and reserving the ground floor of all Indiramm flats for the disabled.
Orders have also been issued enhancing the annual income ceiling limit from Rs. 12,000 to Rs. 1 lakh for eligibility for various schemes; enhancing pre-metric scholarships and reimbursement of fees as prescribed by the government/university benefiting disabled students (during 2008-09 and 2009-10, disabled students benefitted to an extent of Rs. 63.87 lakhs and Rs. 82.76 lakhs, respectively); and increasing the marriage incentive from Rs. 3,000 to Rs. 10,000 for marriages between differently-abled and normal persons.
Courtesy: INN