Parliament Question: Cases of Autism

GOVERNMENTOFINDIA MINISTRYOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE DEPARTMENTOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE LOK SABHA UNSTARREDQUESTION NO. 3645 TOBE ANSWERED ON13THMARCH,2026 CASES OFAUTISM †3645.SHRIGOPALJEE THAKUR: Will the Ministerof HEALTH AND FAMILYWELFAREbe pleasedtostate: (a) whether a number of cases related to Autisum Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and a neuro developmental disorder being observed among children in the country, if so, the details thereof; (b) whether economically weaker families are unable to provide proper treatment to their children suffering from the said disorder in the country primarily due to the high cost of treatment andlackof awareness, if so, the detailsthereof,State/UT-wise; and (c) whether the Government proposes to take any steps to ensure proper care and to provide accessible and affordable treatment for the children suffering from the said disease and if so, the detailsthereof? ANSWER THE MINISTER OFSTATE IN THE MINISTRYOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE (SHRIPRATAPRAO JADHAV) (a) to(c) As per the National Mental Health Survey, 2016 conductedby the Government through National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), Bangalore in 12 States of the country, the prevalence of Autism Spectrum Disorder in the age group of 13-17 years was 1.6%. Under National Health Mission (NHM), MoHFW implements Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK) under which Mobile Health Teams (MHT) conduct health screening of children from birth to 18 years for the four D’s: Defects at birth, Diseases, Deficiencies, and Development delays at Anganwadi and Schools. Autism is one of the health conditions included under Developmental Delays. Children identified are provided with early intervention servicesand follow-up care at District Early Intervention Centers (DEIC). DEICs offer a multitude of services by providing developmentally supportive care at the district level for follow-up managementof referred andtreatedcases. As perinformation provided by National Trust for the welfare of Persons with Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Mental Retardation (IntellectualDisability) andMultiple Disabilities, variousschemesand programmes are implemented for the welfare and rehabilitation of the persons with disabilities covered under the National Trust Act, including Autism in the country. Under the National Trust Act, there is a provision for appointment of Legal Guardians for these persons with disabilities who need it, through Local Level Committee (LLC) constituted at District Level under Chairmanship of District Magistrate/ District Collector. The National Trust is also implementing schemes namely- Disha (Early Intervention and School Readiness) scheme, Vikaas (Day Care) scheme, Disha-cum-Vikaas (Day Care) scheme, Samarth (Respite Care) scheme, Gharaunda (Group Home for Adults) scheme, Samarth-cum-Gharaunda (Residential) scheme and Niramaya - HealthInsurance scheme. As per information provided by the DePwD, under the Niramaya Health Insurance Scheme which is implemented by the National Trust under the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, Ministry of social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India. The scheme provides affordable health insurance coverage of up to Rs. 1.0 lakh for persons with specified disabilities namely Austism, Cerebral Palsy, Intellectual Disability and Multiple Disabilities, coveredunderthe National TrustAct. The Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DePwD) runs 28 Cross Disability Early Intervention Centers (CDEIC) under National Institutes/Composite Regional Centers (CRC) which also cater to ASD. Under CDEIC, the screening and identification are undertaken by qualified professionals including Clinical/Rehabilitation Psychologists, Pediatricians, Audiologists & Speech Language Pathologists, Occupational Therapists and Physiotherapists as per approvedguidelines. CDEICs are rehabilitative and intervention-oriented centresandfunctionincoordination with existing healthfacilities. The DEPwD also implements the Scheme of ‘Assistance to Persons with Disabilities for Purchase/Fitting of Aids and Appliances (ADIP)’ under which funds are released to various Implementing Agencies to assist the eligible persons with disabilities including persons with Autism Spectrum Disorder in procuring durable, sophisticated and scientifically manufactured, modern, standard aids and appliances that can promote their physical, social and psychological rehabilitation by reducing the effects of disabilities and enhancing their economic potential throughout the country. The Department provides various kinds of assistive devices as per the biomechanical deficiency of the beneficiary like Wheelchair, Teaching and Learning Material kitsetc.tosupport the rehabilitation of the person with Autism SpectrumDisorder.The Ministry of Education under Centrally Sponsored Scheme of Samagra Shiksha has dedicated inclusive education component for the education of Children with Special Needs (CwSN) with one or more disabilities. Special Educators are appointed in Schools as per the minimum requirements laid down by Rehabilitation Council of India. Workshops and Training programs are organized for teachers to sensitize them towards the needs of diverse learners. Teachers are trained to adopt inclusive teaching methods and create individualized education plans (IEPs) for students with special needs. Various examination accommodations are provided for students with disabilities, such as extra time, use of a scribe or option to use computer. The Board providesrelaxations inallthe benchmarkdisabilitiesin the Board examinations(classes X andXII) (RPWDAct-2016). ****