SRINAGAR: The Central Government has said it is strengthening rehabilitation and early intervention services for persons with disabilities by supporting voluntary organisations under the Deendayal Divyangjan Rehabilitation Scheme (DDRS) and approving 28 Cross Disability Early Intervention Centres (CDEICs) across the country.
In a written reply to an unstarred question in the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday, Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment B. L. Verma said the DDRS provides financial assistance to voluntary organisations to deliver a range of rehabilitation services for persons with disabilities, with a particular emphasis on education, skill development, early intervention and inclusion in mainstream society.
The Minister said the scheme supports services aimed at developing daily living skills, providing education and training, and enabling persons with disabilities to realise their full potential. State and Union Territory-wise details of funds released under the scheme have been placed in Annexure-I of the reply.
To improve access to rehabilitation and community-based support services, Verma said the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities is implementing the Cross Disability Early Intervention Centre sub-scheme under the Scheme for Implementation of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act (SIPDA).
He informed the House that 28 Cross Disability Early Intervention Centres have been approved at National Institutes and Composite Regional Centres across various States and Union Territories. These centres provide screening, early identification of developmental delays and disabilities, referral services, therapeutic interventions and parental counselling for children in the 0–6 years age group.
The Minister also said the Department has undertaken awareness generation and outreach initiatives to improve participation of voluntary organisations in disability-related schemes and services.
In addition, National Institutes and Composite Regional Centres are providing a wide range of rehabilitation services, including special education, vocational training, skill development, capacity-building programmes, accessible learning resources such as Braille, e-Pub and talking books, assistive technology, accessible teaching-learning materials, distribution of assistive devices, and outreach programmes aimed at promoting inclusive education and community-based rehabilitation, the Rajya Sabha was informed.
