Role of Panchayati Raj Institutions for Empowerment of Disabled Person with the Perspective of Census of India, 2011

The approach to the Tenth Plan focuses on empowering and promoting the welfare of disabled persons. The emphasis is on effective implementation of the Persons with Disabilities Act, 1995. The Government of India has various strategies, policies and programmes/schemes for incorporating persons with disabilities in education and in the economic development process. However, successful implementation of such programmes requires adequate funds, an appropriate policy framework and, above all an effective delivery mechanism. To this end, it is necessary to involve Panchayats in these programmes. The first step is to equip the Panchayats with relevant information. Article 40 of the Constitution enjoins that the States shall take necessary steps to organize village panchayats with such power and authority as may be necessary to enable them to function as units of self- government. During the last fifty years several attempts have been made to bring about effective decentralization, both political and economic with limited success. However, the year 1992 marks a new era in the federal democratic set up of the country. The 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1992 conferred Constitutional status on the Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs). Consequent to the 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act, the State Governments are now evolving modalities and institutional arrangements for facilitating the involvement of Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) in implementation of various programmes under 29 subjects including Empowerment of Disabled. As per estimates at present 30 million children (10 %) out of approximately 300 million children in the age group 0-14 year in the country suffer from some impairment/disability or the other (including sensory, locomotors or cognitive impairments - impairment ranges from mild to severe). More than half of such disabilities are preventable, if adequate and effective preventive measures are taken particularly at early stages. The Government of India has been implementing various programmes for welfare of the children with disabilities through different government and non-government organisations. These programmes provide wide ranging benefits in important fields such as education, vocational training and rehabilitation, and financial assistance for specific needs of the disabled.