PARLIAMENT QUESTION: Initiatives for the Empowerment of Divyangjans
The Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (Divyangjan), under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, marked International Day of Persons with Disabilities 2024 with launch of 16 groundbreaking initiatives to empower Divyangjan across India. Through these initiatives, the Department aim to ensure equal opportunities, accessibility and empowerment for every Divyangjan. Widespread awareness has been done through print, electronic, digital and social media platforms to ensure that Divyangjan across India including those in remote or underserved areas are informed about these initiatives. List of Initiatives: The chapter IX of the RPwD Act 2016 provides for registration of institutes like NGOs, etc. that are working for the empowerment of persons with disabilities. It further states that the appropriate Government may within the limits of their economic capacity and development, grant financial assistance to registered institutions to provide services and to implement the schemes and programmes across the country including rural & semi-urban areas, in pursuance of the provisions of the said Act. Most of the initiatives launched are in collaboration with private sector and Non-Governmental Organizations to create an inclusive environment for Persons with Disabilities in the country. Such initiatives include launch of better aids and appliances for use of Divyangjan, MoUs with private companies to enhance employment opportunities for divyangjan, sharing codes for enhancing accessibility and Accessible Learning Materials etc. These 16 initiatives have been launched to ensure equal opportunities, accessibility and empowerment for every Divyangjan and to create an inclusive environment for Persons with Disabilities in the country. Periodic review and regular follow-ups with the stakeholders are done by the Department for holistic improvement towards the empowerment of Persons with Disabilities. To address identified gaps, Department is focused on strict policy implementation and enforcement, alongside strengthening monitoring mechanisms. The Department launched National Disability Information Helpline Service (NDIHS) on Short Code-14456 in January 2024. The helpline provides round-the-clock telephonic assistance in English and Hindi through an Interactive Voice Response System (IVRS) and call attendant support during working hours. NDIHS provides information about aids and assistive devices, Unique Disability ID (UDID) services, educational and economic empowerment programmes for persons with disabilities (PwDs), benefits, and concessions under Government schemes etc. Around 65,000 persons have been assisted through the helpline so far. This information was provided by UNION MINISTER OF STATE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT, SHRI B.L. VERMA, in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha today. ***** VM (Lok Sabha US Q426) The Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (Divyangjan), under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, marked International Day of Persons with Disabilities 2024 with launch of 16 groundbreaking initiatives to empower Divyangjan across India. Through these initiatives, the Department aim to ensure equal opportunities, accessibility and empowerment for every Divyangjan. Widespread awareness has been done through print, electronic, digital and social media platforms to ensure that Divyangjan across India including those in remote or underserved areas are informed about these initiatives. List of Initiatives: The chapter IX of the RPwD Act 2016 provides for registration of institutes like NGOs, etc. that are working for the empowerment of persons with disabilities. It further states that the appropriate Government may within the limits of their economic capacity and development, grant financial assistance to registered institutions to provide services and to implement the schemes and programmes across the country including rural & semi-urban areas, in pursuance of the provisions of the said Act. Most of the initiatives launched are in collaboration with private sector and Non-Governmental Organizations to create an inclusive environment for Persons with Disabilities in the country. Such initiatives include launch of better aids and appliances for use of Divyangjan, MoUs with private companies to enhance employment opportunities for divyangjan, sharing codes for enhancing accessibility and Accessible Learning Materials etc. These 16 initiatives have been launched to ensure equal opportunities, accessibility and empowerment for every Divyangjan and to create an inclusive environment for Persons with Disabilities in the country. Periodic review and regular follow-ups with the stakeholders are done by the Department for holistic improvement towards the empowerment of Persons with Disabilities. To address identified gaps, Department is focused on strict policy implementation and enforcement, alongside strengthening monitoring mechanisms. The Department launched National Disability Information Helpline Service (NDIHS) on Short Code-14456 in January 2024. The helpline provides round-the-clock telephonic assistance in English and Hindi through an Interactive Voice Response System (IVRS) and call attendant support during working hours. NDIHS provides information about aids and assistive devices, Unique Disability ID (UDID) services, educational and economic empowerment programmes for persons with disabilities (PwDs), benefits, and concessions under Government schemes etc. Around 65,000 persons have been assisted through the helpline so far. This information was provided by UNION MINISTER OF STATE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT, SHRI B.L. VERMA, in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha today. ***** VM (Lok Sabha US Q426)