Executive Summary:
This document summarizes the Indian government's initiatives through the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, specifically addressing the education, rehabilitation, and skill development of visually impaired individuals. It outlines the role of the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, detailing the functions of national institutes and various schemes aimed at supporting persons with disabilities. It clarifies the government's efforts to promote educational opportunities and accessibility for visually impaired individuals, including higher and technical education.
Key Points / Main Content:
National Institutes and Centers:
* There are nine National Institutes under the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities catering to persons with disabilities across the country, but none are located in Chhattisgarh.
* A Composite Regional Centre operates in Rajnandgaon, Chhattisgarh, as an extension of the National Institute for Empowerment of Persons with Intellectual Disabilities.
NIEPVD Programs:
* The National Institute for the Empowerment of Persons with Visual Disabilities (NIEPVD), Dehradun, offers RCI-recognized special education programs like M.Ed. VI, B.Ed. VI, DB, and D.Ed. VI, along with psychology courses.
* NIEPVD provides vocational and skill development programs in areas such as Computer Operations, Braille Stenography, Assistive Technologies, Music, Gardening, Reflexology, and Radio Jockey.
* NIEPVD runs a CBSE-affiliated Model School and Balvatika classes aligned with NEP 2020 for visually impaired children.
* NIEPVD hosts an inclusive NBT outlet to promote accessible literature.
Government Schemes and Initiatives:
* ADIP Scheme: Provides aids and appliances to persons with disabilities, including the visually impaired, to promote rehabilitation and enhance economic potential.
* ADIP-SSA Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan: Distributes aids and assistive devices to school-going children with visual impairment in collaboration with the Ministry of Education.
* DDRS: Offers financial assistance to voluntary organizations and State Project Implementing agencies for running projects, including special schools for children with visual, hearing, and intellectual disabilities.
* Umbrella Scheme: Provides scholarships (Prematric, Postmatric, Top Class Education, National Overseas Scholarship, National Fellowship, Free Coaching) for students with disabilities, disbursing funds directly to bank accounts (DBT).
* NAPSDP: Implements a National Action Plan for Skill Development for Persons with Disabilities, offering skill training to individuals aged 15-59, including the visually impaired.
Impact Analysis
Persons with Visual Impairments:
Impact: Beneficiaries of educational, rehabilitation, and skill development programs, as well as financial assistance for aids, appliances, and scholarships.
Action Required: To apply for and utilize the available programs, schemes, and resources to enhance their education, skills, and overall quality of life.
Educational Institutions (e.g., Schools, Colleges, Universities):
Impact: Collaboration opportunities through schemes like ADIP-SSA to provide assistive devices and support to visually impaired students.
Action Required: Partner with the government and relevant organizations to implement inclusive education practices and facilitate access to resources for visually impaired students.
Implementing Agencies (Under ADIP and DDRS):
Impact: Responsible for the distribution of aids and appliances, as well as the implementation of welfare and empowerment projects.
Action Required: Effectively manage and utilize funds, ensure the proper distribution of resources, and provide support to persons with disabilities.
Voluntary Organizations and State Project Implementing Agencies:
Impact: Financial assistance for running projects and special schools.
Action Required: Set up and maintain District Disability Rehabilitation Centres (DDRCs) and special schools for the welfare of Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) including those with visual, hearing and intellectual disabilities.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment: The Indian government ministry responsible for social justice and empowerment, including the welfare of persons with disabilities.
Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities: A department under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, specifically focused on the empowerment of persons with disabilities.
Chhattisgarh: A state in India where the existence of a National Institute for visually challenged students is being questioned.
National Institute for the Empowerment of Persons with Visual Disabilities NIEPVD, Dehradun: A national institute located in Dehradun, Uttarakhand, offering rehabilitation and education programs for visually impaired individuals.
Rehabilitation Council of India RCI: An Indian statutory body that regulates and monitors training programs and professionals in the field of rehabilitation.
National Education Policy 2020 NEP 2020: A comprehensive framework for elementary education to higher education in India.
Scheme of Assistance to Persons with Disabilities for PurchaseFitting of Aids and Appliances ADIP Scheme: A scheme providing financial assistance for the purchase and fitting of aids and appliances for persons with disabilities.
Deendayal Divyangjan Rehabilitation Scheme DDRS: A scheme providing financial assistance to organizations for projects aimed at the welfare and empowerment of Persons with Disabilities.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT
DEPARTMENT OF EMPOWERMENT OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO- 4303
TO BE ANSWERED ON 19/08/2025
NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR THE VISUALLY CHALLENGED STUDENTS
4303. SHRI BHOJRAJ NAG:
SHRI KHAGEN MURMU
Will the Minister of SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT be pleased to state:
(a) whether any national institute is run by the Department in the stalk of Empowerment of
Persons with Disabilities in the State of Chhattisgarh;
(b) whether any significant work is being done in the field of education, rehabilitation and skill
development of visually impaired boys and girls in these institutions, if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the Government has made any significant efforts for the educational development
and upliftment of visually empaired boys and girls, if so, the details thereof; and
(d) whether the Government has made an visually impaired children to connect with higher and
technical education, if so, the details thereof?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT
(SHRI B.L. VERMA)
(a) There are nine National Institute under this Department which cater for Persons with
Disabilities across the country. Presently, no National Institute under this Department in the State
of Chhattisgarh. However, there is a Composite Regional Centre for Skill Development,
Rehabilitation and Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, an extended arm of National
Institute is being run in Rajnandgaon, Chhattisgarh under the National Institute for
Empowerment of Persons with Intellectual Disabilities under the Department.
(b) to (d) The Department through its National Institute for the Empowerment of Persons with
Visual Disabilities (NIEPVD), Dehradun offers Rehabilitation Council of India (RCI) -
recognized Special Education programmes including M.Ed. (VI); B.Ed. (VI) and (DB); and
D.Ed. (VI) and along with Psychology courses such as M.Phil. (Rehabilitation Psychology),
M.Phil. (Clinical Psychology), M.Sc. Integrated Applied Psychology and PG Diploma inRehabilitation Psychology. The institute also conducts vocational and skill development
programmes in trades such as Computer Operations, Braille Stenography & Secretarial
Assistance (English & Hindi), Assistive Technologies, Music, Adjustment, Gardening,
Reflexology, and Radio Jockey for persons with visual impairment to enhance skills,
independence, and employment opportunities.
NIEPVD, Dehradun runs a CBSE affiliated Model School for visually impaired boys and girls.
NIEPVD also run Balvatika classes aligned with NEP 2020 for early childhood education and
class 1 readiness. The institute has also hosted India’s first inclusive and universal design-based
NBT outlet to promote accessible literature and reading habits among children and youth with
disabilities.
Although relief to the disabled is a State subject by virtue of entry 9 of the State List of the
Constitution of India, this Department support for the efforts for educational including higher
and technical education and upliftment of visually impaired boys and girls through its major
initiatives and schemes, which details is as follow:-
(i) The Scheme of ‘Assistance to Persons with Disabilities for Purchase/Fitting of Aids and
Appliances (ADIP Scheme)’ under which funds are released to various Implementing Agencies
to assist the eligible persons with disabilities (Divyangjan) including Persons with Visual
Disabilities 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. In order to make the education accessible Aids and assistive devices are distributed to
school going children including Persons with Visual Impairment under the provision of ADIP-
SSA (Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan) in collaboration with Ministry of Education.
(ii) Under Deendayal Divyangjan Rehabilitation Scheme (DDRS), financial assistance is
provided to the voluntary Organizations/ State Project Implementing agencies for (i) setting up
of District Disability Rehabilitation Centres (DDRCs) and (ii) running various projects for the
welfare/empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) including Special School for the
Children with Visual, Hearing and Intellectual disability including Children with Cerebral Palsy
etc., aimed at enabling them to maintain their optimal, physical, sensory, intellectual, psychiatric
or social functional levels.
(iii) Department is implementing Umbrella Scheme ‘Scholarships for Students with Disabilities’
comprising six components viz., Pre-matric, Post-matric, Top Class Education, National
Overseas Scholarship, National Fellowship for PwDs and Free Coaching schemes with an
objective to remove financial, physical and psychological barriers, enabling the Divyang students
to pursue education and live with dignity. Funds are disbursed directly to students’ bank
accounts (DBT mode) throughout India.
(iv) Department implements the National Action Plan for Skill Development for Persons with
Disabilities (NAP-SDP) for imparting skill training to persons with disabilities in the age group
of 15 to 59 years including visually impaired boys and girls.
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