Executive Summary:
This document summarizes the Indian government's initiatives for the welfare of Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) as of August 19, 2025. It addresses questions regarding the number and capacity of National Institutes for PwDs, inclusive education measures, and support for Children with Special Needs (CwSN). The information includes details on financial assistance, increased enrollment, implementation of the RPwD Act, and measures taken by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE).
Key Points / Main Content:
* **National Institutes:**
* Nine National Institutes for the welfare of Persons with Disabilities are being run by the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities. (List of the nine National Institutes is included in the Annexure.)
* Financial assistance is granted yearly based on budgetary requirements.
* The number of courses offered by the National Institutes rose from 94 to 143 between 2014-15 and 2024-25.
* Student enrolment grew from 2,287 to 3,511 during the same period.
* **Inclusive Education:**
* The Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act, 2016 mandates inclusive education and accessible transport for students with disabilities.
* Inclusive education is promoted through trained special educators, individualized support, reasonable accommodations, and transportation facilities.
* The Department implements the ADIP Scheme to provide aids and appliances to eligible persons with disabilities.
* National Institutes arrange transport facilities and travel support.
* **CBSE Initiatives:**
* The CBSE mandates inclusive practices across affiliated schools, including those in the DewasShajapur constituency.
* 62 schools situated in Dewas and Shajapur districts of Madhya Pradesh are affiliated to CBSE.
* Mandated infrastructural provisions such as ramps, auditory signals, and accessible toilets.
* Appointment of Special Educators in schools to support Children with Special Needs CwSN.
* Examination concessions such as additional time, use of scribes, exemption from second language, and provision of screen reading software.
* Guidelines and an accessibility code for institutions to remove physical and communication barriers.
* Inclusive teaching promoted through capacity-building programs and manuals.
* Handbook of Inclusive Education to help schools create inclusive learning environments.
Impact Analysis:
* **Persons with Disabilities (PwDs):**
* Impact: Increased access to education, assistive devices, and support services, promoting physical, social, and psychological rehabilitation.
* Action Required: Avail of the services and schemes provided by the National Institutes and the ADIP Scheme.
* **National Institutes:**
* Impact: Enhanced capacity through increased financial assistance, enabling them to offer more courses and accommodate more students.
* Action Required: Furnish budgetary requirements to the Department and implement inclusive practices.
* **Schools (including CBSE affiliated schools):**
* Impact: Requirement to implement inclusive practices, provide accessible infrastructure, and appoint special educators.
* Action Required: Adhere to CBSE guidelines, implement infrastructural changes, appoint special educators, and promote inclusive teaching methods.
* **Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment:**
* Impact: Responsible for overseeing the implementation of the RPwD Act, providing financial assistance, and monitoring the progress of National Institutes.
* Action Required: Ensure adequate funding and effective implementation of schemes and policies for the welfare of PwDs.
Key Entities Referenced
Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities: A department under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India, responsible for the welfare of Persons with Disabilities (PwDs).
National Institutes for the Persons with Disabilities: A network of nine institutes run by the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities for the welfare of Persons with Disabilities (PwDs).
The Rights of Persons with Disabilities RPwD Act, 2016: An act mandating inclusive education and accessible transport for students with disabilities.
Dewas-Shajapur Constituency: A constituency in Madhya Pradesh, India, that is the focus of specific measures to promote inclusive education for children with disabilities.
Scheme of Assistance to Persons with Disabilities for Purchase/Fitting of Aids and Appliances ADIP Scheme: A scheme that provides funds to implementing agencies to assist eligible persons with disabilities (Divyangjan) in procuring aids and appliances.
Central Board of Secondary Education CBSE: A board under the Ministry of Education that mandates inclusive practices across affiliated schools, including those in Dewas-Shajapur constituency.
Children with Special Needs CwSN: Children who require special education services.
Madhya Pradesh: A state in India where Dewas and Shajapur districts are located.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT
DEPARTMENT OF EMPOWERMENT OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO-4241
TO BE ANSWERED ON- 19/08/2025
National Institute for the Welfare of Persons with Disabilities
4241. Shri Arun Govil:
Shri Mahendra Singh Solanky:
Will the Minister of SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT be pleased to state:
(a) the details of the total number of National Institutes for the Persons with Disabilities being
run by the Ministry for the welfare of PwDs;
(b) whether there is any proposal to increase the financial assistance for enhancing the capacity
of these institutes, if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether there has been a substantial increase in the number of courses and students in these
institutes since 2014, if so, the details thereof;
(d) whether the Government has implemented any specific measures to promote inclusive
education for children with disabilities in the Dewas–Shajapur Constituency, if so, the details
thereof;
(e) the total number of schools in the constituency that are disability-friendly in terms of
infrastructure, teaching materials, and trained staff; and
(f) whether there is a mechanism to ensure that Children with Special Needs (CwSN) are
provided assistive devices, special educators and transport facilities?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT
(SHRI B.L. VERMA)
(a) There are nine National Institutes being run by the Department of Empowerment of Persons
with Disabilities for the welfare of Persons with Disabilities. The details are at Annexure.(b) Financial assistance to National Institutes under the Department is granted on yearly basis as
per budgetary requirements furnished by the Institutes and allocation to this Department.
(c) The number of courses and students in the National Institutes has been significantly increased
between 2014-15 and 2024-25. The number of courses offered by the National Institutes under
DEPwD rose from 94 to 143, while student enrolment grew from 2,287 to 3,511.
(d) to (f) The Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act, 2016 (Section 16 and 17)
mandates inclusive education and accessible transport for students with disabilities through
trained special educators, individualized support, reasonable accommodations in schools, provide
transportation facilities to the children with disabilities and also the attendant of the children with
disabilities having high support needs, conduct survey of school going children in every five
years, to train professionals and staff to support inclusive education at all levels of school
education, promote accessible learning’s - ensuring full participation and completion of
education for children with disabilities throughout the country including in the Dewas–Shajapur
Constituency.
The Department is also implementing 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) 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 addition, special education services are delivered in the National Institutes by trained
educators.
To further enhance accessibility, National Institutes under the Department arranges transport
facilities and travel support, including pickup/drop services and travel concessions, ensuring safe
and convenient access to the institutes.
The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) under the Ministry of Education, in
alignment with the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act, 2016, also mandates
inclusive practices across affiliated schools including those situated in Dewas-Shajapur
constituency. 62 schools situated in Dewas and Shajapur districts of Madhya Pradesh are
affiliated to CBSE. The Board has taken following measures to ensure disabled friendly learning
environment in its affiliated schools:
(i) Mandated infrastructural provisions such as ramps, auditory signals, and accessible toilets
under its Affiliation Bye-Laws.
(ii) Appointment of Special Educators in schools to support Children with Special Needs
(CwSN).
(iii)Examination concessions such as additional time, use of scribes, exemption from second
language, and provision of screen reading software.(iv) Guidelines and an accessibility code for institutions to remove physical and
communication barriers.
(v) Promoted inclusive teaching through capacity-building programs and manuals on
inclusive practices.
(vi) A handbook of Inclusive Education to help schools create inclusive learning
environments.
****ANNEXURE
Annexure referred to in reply to part (a) of Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No.4241 for
answer on 19.08.2025
1. National Institute for the Empowerment of Persons with Visual Disabilities (NIEPVD),
Dehradun
2. Ali Yavar Jung National Institute of Speech and Hearing Disabilities (AYJNISHD), Mumbai
3. National Institute for the Empowerment of Persons with Intellectual Disabilities (NIEPID),
Secunderabad
4. National Institute for Empowerment of Persons with Multiple Disabilities (NIEPMD),
Chennai
5. Pt. Deendayal Upadhyaya National Institute for Persons with Physical Disabilities
(PDUNIPPD) , New Delhi
6. Swami Vivekanand National Institute of Rehabilitation Training and Research
(SVNIRTAR) , Cuttack
7. National Institute for Locomotor Disabilities (NILD), Kolkata
8. Indian Sign Language Research & Training Centre (ISLRTC), New Delhi
9. National Institute of Mental Health and Rehabilitation (NIMHR), Sehore
****