Jharkhand plans new Disability policy

[Avnish Jolly]

Jharkhand plans new Disability policy
http://www.igovernment.in:81/site/jharkhand-plans-new-disability-policy?utm_source=newsletter-core&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=20110819

Prepared in the light of the national disability policy, it would
ensure 3 per cent budgetary allocation for welfare of disabled persons
Submitted on 08/19/2011

By Chandrabindu
Ranchi: The Jharkhand government has prepared a new draft policy for
welfare of disabled persons that would ensure transparent and
effective implementation of the scheme meant for the target section.
The proposed policy drafted in accordance with the national policy for
disabled intends to make sure that the concerned departments allocate
at least 3 per cent of their budget for their welfare.
Besides, there will be a core committee comprising officials of the
State government, social activists and representatives of the non-
governmental organsations (NGOs) who would be tasked to oversee the
execution of the programmes meant for them.
Prepared by the State Welfare Department, the draft policy for
disabled would be tabled before the Cabinet for approval soon. The Law
Department has recently given its nod for the new policy with little
modification.
State Disability Commissioner Satish Chandra said that the proposed
policy, which would replace the existing policy, had been modified
with a view to toning up delivery mechanism and supervisory system so
as to ensure that the Central policy enacted in 1995 could be
implemented effectively and honestly.
The proposed draft disability policy envisages that all education and
technical institutes, private or government, will have to allocate 3
per cent seats for physically disabled persons at any cost.
“Concerned departments like education, health, social services, etc,
would be asked to allocate 3 per cent of their budgetary spending for
disabled persons’ welfare. Special rehabilitation schemes would be
planned for the disabled persons,” Chandra added.
About the salient features of the proposed disability policy, Welfare
Department Secretary Mridula Sinha said that the government would
ensure cent per cent education to disabled child, which would also
involve teaching at home to badly affected students.
“Special drive would be launched to achieve this objective soon after
the new policy comes into effect by next month,” she said, adding that
the disabled persons would be entitled for 10 years upper age
relaxation for government jobs.
A State-level core group headed by the Disability Commissioner would
be set up to look into implementation of the provisions of the policy.
All the persons engaged in the core group would be provided
honorariums for their work.