This document discusses disability and services for persons with disabilities in India. It provides definitions of disability and outlines India's community-based rehabilitation (CBR) approach. Some key points: - According to the 2011 Census, there are 21 million persons with disabilities in India, comprising 2.1% of the population. The majority live in rural areas and have lower literacy and employment rates. - India has implemented a CBR system to provide rehabilitation services within communities using local resources. However, there are still many challenges to effective implementation like poverty, stigma, and lack of trained professionals. - The government has enacted laws promoting equal rights and opportunities for those with disabilities. It has also ratified the UN Convention on

1. STATUS OF DISABILITY
&
Services for the welfare &
Rehabilitation for the Persons with
Disabilities
in India
By
Dr.Asha Deshpande
Director- Education & Research
KamayaniPrashikshan & Sanshodhan
Society, Pune

2. A disability is a condition or function judged to be significantly
impaired relative to the usual standard of an individual or their
group. The term is often used to refer to individual
functioning, including physical impairment, sensory
impairment, cognitive impairment, intellectual impairment or
mental health issue.
"Disability" means - I) Blindnes II) low vision III) leprosy-cured
IV) Hearing impairment V) locomotor disability VI) Mental
retardation VII) Mental illness
Community Based rehabilitation (CBR) of disables is a
systematic approach to help disabled persons within their
own community, by making the best use of local resources
and helping the community to become aware of their
responsibility in this regard. Responsibility is also given to the
disabled themselves, as they are the part of community. The
aim is to provide services from within the community and with
the active involvement of the community, family and the local
administration. This approach is the client-centered approach
and services are provided according to the felt needs of the
individual (NIMH 1994).

3. In India the socio-economic and cultural factors
create several hurdles in implementing CBR for
the PWD.
These constraints are as follows:-
1. Illiteracy and lack of awareness
2. Non availability of proper information or
guidelines
3. Poverty and over population
4. Misconceptions & Stigma.
5. Non acceptance and rejection of disables
like mentally challenged and mentally ill both at
urban as well as rural Society
6. Non-proximity of the Special Schools.
7. Lack of trained personnel.
8. Centralization of the services in Urban
areas -.
9.[1] scarcity of services In Urban area.

4. According to the Census 2011,
there are 21 million persons with
disabilities in India who constitute
2.1 percent of the total population.
This includes persons with visual,
hearing, speech, locomotor and
mental disabilities. Seventy five per
cent of persons with disabilities live in
rural areas, 49 per cent of disabled
population is literate and only 34 per
cent are employed.

5. NUMBER OF DISABLED POPULATION
AND TYPE OF DISABILITY IN INDIA
 Population Percentage
 (a) In seeing 1.0
 (b) In speech 0.2
 (c) In hearing 0.1
 (d) In movement 0.6
 (e) Mental 0.2
 Source : Census of India 2011.

6. Change in Attitude in Indian Social
Structure
Legal framework for CBR in India
Government of India has enacted three legislations for persons
with disabilities viz.
(i) Persons with Disability (Equal Opportunities, Protection of
Rights and Full Participation) Act, 1995, which provides for
education, employment, creation of barrier free environment,
social security, etc.
(ii) National Trust for Welfare of Persons with Autism, Cerebral
Pa lsy, Mental Retardation and Multiple Disability Act, 1999 has
provisions for legal guardianship of the four categories and
creation of enabling environment for as much independent living
as possible.
(iii) Rehabilitation Council of India Act, 1992 deals with the
development of manpower for providing rehabilitation services.

7. India ratifies UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with
Disabilities on 29 March 2007
 The Union Cabinet OF India has signed and ratified the United
Nations "Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities"
excluding the Optional Protocol.
By signing and ratifying the UN Convention, India will be re-affirming
its commitment towards International Policy Framework
in respect of the Persons with disabilities. Also, it would enhance
the prestige in the international community.
 The general principles of the Convention are as under:-
(i) Respect for inherent dignity, individual autonomy including the
freedom to make one's own choices, and independence of persons;
(ii) Non-discrimination;
(iii) Full and effective participation and inclusion in society;
(iv) Respect for difference and acceptance of persons with
disabilities as part of human diversity and humanity;
(v) Equality of opportunity;
(vi) Accessibility;
(vii) Equality between men and women;
(viii) Respect for the evolving capacities of children with disabilities
and respect for the right of children with disabilities to preserve
their identities.

8. Extensive infrastructure
Institute for the Physically Handicapped, New Delhi.
National Institute of Visually Handicapped, Dehradun
National Institute for Orthopaedically Handicapped,
Kolkata
National Institute for Mentally Handicapped,
Secunderabad.
National Institute for Hearing Handicapped, Mumbai
National Institute of Rehabilitation Training &
Research, Cuttack.
National Institute for Empowerment of Persons with
Multiple Disabilities, Chennai.

9. 120 District Disability Rehabilitation Centres
(DDRCs) providing various kinds of rehabilitation
services to persons with disabilities are to be
formed. Besides, 250 private institutions are
conducting training courses for rehabilitation
professionals.
National Handicapped and Finance Development
Corporation (NHFDC) has been providing loans on
concessional terms for undertaking self-employment
ventures by the persons with
disabilities through State Channelizing Agencies.
Panchayati Raj Institutions at Village level,
Intermediary level and District level have been
entrusted with the welfare of persons with
disabilities.

10. Aspects of CBR
1) Early Intervention
a) Counseling & Medical Rehabilitation
b) Increasing the independence of the disables
2) Suitable Education – Integrated, Special.
3) Vocational training -
4) Vocational rehabilitation of the Disables
a)Sheltered employment
b) Supported Open Employment
c) Open Employment
d) Self-Employment
5)Appropriate leisure time activities.
a) Sports, Recreation and Cultural life -
6) Care Group, Old Age Homes.
7)Community Based Rehabilitation includes Women with
disabilities
8)Children with Disabilities
9)Barrier-free Environment

11. How CBR program can be implemented in
India more effectively?
1)Constructive use of media to create public awareness
about various disabilities.
2)Integration of Special education at Z. P. schools
3)Starting Home schools - by training the parents, by use
of media interventions.
4)By establishing strong support groups of parents.
5) By establishing strong parent’s organization
6)By starting strong Integrative activities with normal
children
7)Sensitizing the medical practitioners, govt. officials
about the various disabilities
8)By starting agriculture based projects in rural area
9) Bringing technology closer to disables.
10)By involving more and more corporates into the
rehabilitation process of the disables

12. THANK YOU