 EDUCATION AND WELFARE OF THE
 HANDICAPPED

Although no reliable statistics are available it is believed that the blind population in this country is in the neighbourhood of 2 million. The deaf population is estimated at roughly 7 to 8 lakhs. No estimate of the orthopaedically and mentally handicapped is available.

2. One of the major difficulties in the planning of services for the handicapped has been the almost complete absence of statistical data. In order to at least partially remedy the situation, the Government of India attempted, during the Second Plan period, to carry out random sample surveys in select areas. Such a survey was recently completed in Greater Delhi. This survey reveals that Dearly 4 per cent of the families residing in Delhi had a handicapped member. The blind constitute the largest group of handicapped persons and the orthopedically handicapped come next.

3. While we still have no dependable data regarding the size of the handicapped population and their needs, the magnitude of the problem seems to be obvious from the limited studies already carried out. An attempt will be made here to describe very concisely the steps that have been or are being taken by the Government of India to develop educational and other services for the physically and mentally handicapped.

A. THE BLIND

4. Institutions.

-There are at present about 100 schools and other establishments for the blind in the country. The majority of them are run by voluntary agencies with some State aid. Most of these institutions impart Elementary education coupled with vocational training in crafts like weaving chair-caning, candle-making, toy- making, etc. Music is taught in almost every school for the blind.'

5. The National Association for the Blind.

-The National Association for the Blind established eight years ago acts as a coordinating agency and provides a forum for representatives of institutions for the blind at periodical conferences. It receives grant-in-aid from the Government of India. The Association also undertakes valuable experimental work in this field.

6. Tata Agricultural Training Centre for the Blind.

-An agricultural training centre for the adult blind has recently been established at Phansa in Gujerat State and started functioning on the 26th January, 1960. Its primary object is to train the blind in simple agricultural occupations like sowing, weeding, composting and so on. The trainees are also taught simple rural crafts like basket- making, rope-making and the like. Since the great majority of the blind persons in this country come from rural areas, the success of a project of this kind could have considerable significance for the rehabilitation of the blind. In view of this, the Government of India has just sanctioned financial assistance to this centre to cover a part of the cost of construction of buildings for this project.

7. National Centre for the Blind, Debra Dun.

-One of the major projects undertaken by the Government of India in the field of the education and training of the blind is the establishment of a National Centre for the Blind at Debra 'Dun. The main object of this Centre is to provide an integrated service for the blind commencing from education in childhood to the provision of Braille literature and appliances for blind adults. The Centre is ultimately to consist of several institutions, some of which have already been established.

8. Training Centre for the Adult Blind, Dehra Dun.

-The first institution was established at Dehra Dun on the 1st January, 1950. It is known as the Training Centre for the Adult Blind. This Centre imparts training to adult blind men and women chiefly in crafts with a view to helping them towards economic independence. Since blind persons trained in cottage industries were finding it difficult to secure remunerative employment an attempt is now being made to introduce training in light engineering and in trades like cycle- repairing, elementary carpentry and so on. It has accommodation for 150 blind men and 35 blind women. The Women's Section was established on 30th September, 1957 in a hired building with accommodation only for 20 trainees. The Centre provides free board, lodging, clothes and tuition. The normal period of training is two years.

9. Sheltered Workshop, Debra Dun.

-Attached to the Training Centre is a small sheltered workshop employing four weavers and five chaircaners. To this workshop are admitted such trainees as cannot be immediately placed in open employment. They are paid on a piece-rate basis. They are also provided free furnished residential accommodation, a free cook and free medical aid.

The trainees leaving the Training Centre may take up jobs in ordinary commercial, industrial or other' establishments or set up an independent business in their own homes. During the past six years, 131 trainees have been placed in open employment by the Employment Office, of the Centre at Madras. 27 others have informed the Centre about their placement in open employment.

10. The Central Braille Press, Dehra Dun.

-In pursuance of the recommendations of the "Report on Blindness in India" submitted in 1944, the Government of India established a Central Braille Press at Dehra Dun in April, 1951. The main purpose of this Press is to produce Braille literature in Indian languages. Up-to-date, the Press has printed in Braille 65 titles in Hindi, Gujarati, Marathi, Tamil, Telugu, Bengali and English. The Press also publishes a quarterly journal in Braille entitled "Alok".

As the Press is not able to meet the demand for Braille literature in the country, it is proposed to expand it by importing two more Braille printing machines during the next year.

11. Workshop for the Manufacture of Braille Appliances.

-In January, 1954, a small workshop was added to the Press for the manufacture of Braille appliances. Until then, almost all appliances needed for the education of the blind had to be imported from abroad. Today this workshop is manufacturing the basic appliances like Braille slates and arithmetic frames needed for the education of the blind. This year, the United Nations provided the services of an expert to assist in the development of this workshop. The report of this expert has just been made available and during the next year, it is proposed to develop the workshop in the light of the suggestions made in this report.

12. Model School for Blind Children.

-Another important unit of the proposed National Centre for the Blind is the Model School for Blind Children. The Primary section of this school was established in January, 1959 with accommodation for 50 children. At present, the school has 3children on its rolls. It is eventually to become a full-fledged Secondary school for the blind. During the next year, it expects to become a Middle school with accommodation for 75 children.

13. National Braille Library.

-One of the most important constituent units of the National Centre for the Blind which is yet to come into being is a National Braille Library. There is at present no Braille lending library in the country. It is, therefore, proposed to establish, during the next year, the National Braille Library, Dehra Dun. This Library will lend Braille books in Indian and foreign languages to blind readers throughout the country. Braille books are carried through the post without charge. The library will have a small transcribing department which will undertake to put into Braille essential books for which there is limited demand. It will obviously not be possible for the National Braille Library at Dehra Dun to serve effectively the entire Braille reading population of the country. The State Governments are, therefore, being advised, to establish Braille sections in the Central Libraries in the States.

72 With the addition of the National Braille Library and an after- care section to assist ex-trainees of the Training Centre for the Adult Blind in their rehabilitation, the National Centre for the Blind is expected to be completed during the Third Plan period.

B. THE DEAF

14. Institutions.

-There are at present about 50 schools for the deaf in the country. The majority of them are run by voluntary agencies with some State aid. Most schools for the deaf impart Elementary education and training in trades like tailoring, weaving, carpentry, smithy, printing, book-binding and so on. There are two Centres for the training of teachers of the deaf.

During the Second Plan period it has not been possible for the Government of India to undertake the establishment of any special institution for the deaf. The All India Federation of the Deaf was recently given assistance for the establishment of a school of photography. This will be the first institution of its kind in the country.

The establishment of an institution for imparting vocational training to the adult deaf is envisaged during the Third Plan. The main purpose of this institution will be to train deaf adults in trades like carpentry, tailoring, machine work, commercial painting and so on with a view to helping them towards economic independence.

15. Manufacture of Hearing Aids.

-A substantial number of deaf persons retain a degree of residual hearing which could be put to practical use with the help of modern amplifying equipment. The cost of imported hearing aids is, however, beyond the reach of the average deaf person. Consequently, about five years ago, at the request of the Ministry of Education, the National Physical Laboratory undertook experiments designed to develop indigenous group and individual hearing aids. The Laboratory has succeeded in developing indigenous aids which have been found to be as effective as imported ones and can be manufactured at a much smaller cost. One of the most important advantages of these aids is that they consume less electric curent than imported aids. The possibility of having indigenous hearing aids commercially produced is being examined in consultation with the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

C. THE ORTHOPAEDICALLY HANDICAPPED AND THE MENTALLY HANDICAPPED

16. There are, at present, about a dozen special institutions for the orthopaedically handicapped and about half a dozen schools for mentally deficient children. Almost all of these institutions are run by voluntary agencies. The main aim of the special institutions for the orthopaedically handicapped is to assist in the physical restoration of severely orthopaedically handicapped children by means of occupational therapy and

physiotherapy. The treatment is combined with simple academic edu- cation. On the other hand, the main purpose of special schools for mentally deficient children is to help the sub-normal child in receiving such education and vocational training as he can receive at his own pace.

17. The Government of India have, during the Second Plan period, been attempting with some success to encourage the development of regional institutions for the orthopaedically handicapped. Meanwhile, it is proposed to establish a school for mentally deficient children in Delhi during the next year.

D. GENERAL

18. Scholarships.

-During the Second Plan period, the Government of India have been awarding scholarships to blind, deaf and orthopaedically handicapped students. These scholarships are intended to assist physically handicapped students in receiving general education or technical or professional training in normal institutions. During the Second Plan period, scholarships were awarded to 185 blind. 246 deaf and 228 orthopaedically handicapped students. Thus 659 fresh awards were made during this period.

207 scholars have completed their courses. A follow-up study designed to ascertain to what extent the training received with the help of these scholarships has helped in their rehabilitation is being undertaken on the advice of the National Advisory Council for the Education of the Handicapped.

During the year under review, rules governing these scholarships were revised in the light of the experience gained during the last five years. The outstanding characteristic of the revised rules is the rationalization of the rates of scholarships payable to different categories of handicapped students at different stages of education. Provision has been made in the rules for the payment of a special allowance to blind students for securing the services of readers and to orthopaedically handicapped students for meeting the extra expenditure on transport.

19. Assistance to Voluntary Organizations.

-One of the most important activities of the Government of India in this field during the Second Plan period has been to assist voluntary agencies in developing their existing activities or undertaking new ones. Under the scheme of Assistance to Voluntary Educational Organizations, institutions for the handicapped are helped in developing their existing activities by offering them assistance for the construction of buildings, purchase of equipment or meeting a part of the recurring expenditure.

About two years ago, the Government of India decided to assist voluntary agencies with adequate experience wishing to establish new institution for the handicapped on a regional basis. Assistance in such cases

is given on a more liberal. scale. The Government of India have given assistance for the establishment of three regional institutions each for the orthopaedically handicapped and the deaf and two institutions for the blind.

Since the commencement of the Second Plan up-to-date, assistance amounting to approximately Rs. 8 lakhs has been given to institutions for the handicapped. It will be observed from the following statement indicating the assistance given year-wise that the pace of progress has been accelerated towards the end of the Second Plan period:--

                                          
        
             Year                               Amount Sanctioned
                                          
                                                     Rs.
        
                  1956-57                              67,510
                  1957-58                            1,14,425
                  1958-59                              56,495
                  1959-60                            1,34,750
                  1960-61   (so far)                 4,26,851

It is expected that by the end of the present year a total sum of Rs. 5.5 lakhs will be sanctioned to institutions for the handicapped.

20. Surveys.

-As pointed out earlier, the lack of information is one of the most serious impediments to progress in this field. Consequently, during the 2nd Plan period, an attempt was made to conduct random sample surveys in a few select areas. These surveys are carried out in two stages. At the first stage the enumerators record preliminary information regarding the handicapped persons who are contacted. At the second stage, the handicapped persons are referred to a team of specialists who are asked to express opinion in regard to the ultimate chances of rehabilitation.

Surveys have been completed in Delhi, Bombay and Kanpur. A survey is in progress in a village near Nagpur. The possibility of conducting more surveys through the National Sample Survey of India or some other appropriate organization is being examined.

21. Employment.

-Although educational and training institutions for the handicapped have existed in the country for over 70 years, no concerted efforts appear to have been made to place the handicapped in suitable occupations. Education and training are of little significance unless they culminate into remunerative employment. Accordingly, during the Second Plan period, considerable stress was laid on the development of a placement service for the handicapped. Following a Seminar on the Employment of the Blind held at Mussoorie in September, 1956, the International Labour Organisation offered the services of an expert to 75

assist in the development of a placement service for the physically handicapped. In consultation with this expert a scheme for the establishment of special employment offices for the physically handicapped was drawn up. The first special employment office for the physically handicapped was established at Bombay in March, 1959. The Employment Office of the Training Centre for the Adult Blind established at Madras in July, 1954 is to be put on the same footing as the office in Bombay during the current financial year. An additional office is expected to be established in Delhi before the present financial year is out.

Since its inception, the special Employment Office for the Physically Handicapped at Bombay has placed nearly 100 blind, deaf and orthopaedically handicapped persons in ordinary commercial and industrial establishments as well as in the public services. The Office at Madras has made about 131 placements since its establishment in July, 1954.

The special employment offices will function as integral part of the National Employment Service and will be administered by the State Governments concerned. The cost of running these offices is, however,. borne by the Government of India who are responsible for laying down the policy and procedures to be adopted.

In order to facilitate the task of these special offices, the Government of India have already issued instructions to the central employing departments requesting them to consider the applications of handicapped persons with sympathy. Instructions have also been issued to the effect that handicapped persons who have already been examined by the, medical boards attached to the special employment offices should not be subjected to a further medical examination by the employing departments.

It is proposed to have one special employment office for the physically handicapped in each State by the end of the Third Plan. Three additional offices are proposed to be established during 1961- 62.

22. National Advisory Council for the Education of the Handicapped.

-In September, 1955, the Government of India appointed a National Advisory Council for the Education of the Handicapped to advise them, on all problems concerning the education, training, employment and the provision of cultural and social amenities for the physically and mentally handicapped. The Council consists of representatives of concerned Government departments and experts in the education and training of the, blind, the deaf, the orthopaedically and mentally handicapped. From time to time the Council has made valuable recommendations to the Government of India. One of the most important tasks undertaken by the Council is the appointment of a Sub- Committee to examine the training programmes for - various institutions for the handicapped and to,

76 suggest measures for their reorganization in the light of employment prospects.

23. The Progress during the Second Plan.

-Only a few schemes estimated to cost about Rs. 11 lakhs were included in the First Plan towards the end. Provision of a sum of Rs. 50 lakhs was, however, made in the Second Plan for the education, training and employment of the handicapped. But in view of the fact that this was almost an unchartered field and both governmental and non-governmental agencies had to gain experience before properly thought-out schemes could be implemented with speed, expenditure in the initial years was very small. Progress was, however, accelerated towards the end. This will be evident from the fact that during the first four years of the Second Plan, institutions for the handicapped were given assistance amounting to only about Rs. 3,73,000. During the final year of the Plan, however, a sum of Rs. 5.5 lakhs is likely to be sanctioned to institutions and organizations for the handicapped. The total expenditure on the education and welfare of the handicapped on Central schemes included in the Second Plan is expected to be of the order of about Rs. 20 lakhs. The experience gained during the Second Plan period has also prepared the ground for the speedy implementation of carefully thoughtout schemes during the Third Plan period.

24. Financial Provisions.

-The following table gives the financial provisions made for the different schemes in this sector during 1960-61 and 1961-62:-

                                               
        
        
                                                                        Budget Provision
        SL.                     Scheme                                       during
        No.
                                                                    1960-61     1961-62
                                                                       Rs.        Rs.
        
        1 Training Centre for the Adult Blind, Dehra Dun (Men's
        Section                                                      2,16,800   2,20,900
        2 Training Centre for the Adult Blind, Dehra Dun (Women's
             Section)                                                   57,200   54,500
        3 Sheltered 'Workshop for the Blind, Dehra Dun                  47,600   54,000
        4 The Central Braille Press, Dehra Dun                        1,32,300  1,78,800
        
        5 Workshop for the Manufacture of Braille Appliances, 
        Dehra Dun                                                       50,000    36,700
        6 Model School for Blind Children, Dehra Dun                  1,16,800  1,08,600
        7 Training Centre for the Adult Deaf-Establishment of                   1,00,000
        8 Scholarships for the Blind                                    85,500  1,60,000
        9 Scholarships for the Deaf                                     73,000  1,10,000
        10 Scholarships for the Orthopaedically Handicapped             60,000  1,10,000
        11 Survey of the Handicapped                                    25,000    20,000
        12 Assistance to the Voluntary Organisations for the 
          Handicapped                                                 5,50,000  3,50,000
        13 Establishment of Special Employment Offices for the Handi-
        capped                                                          48,000    50,000

EDUCATION AND WELFARE OF THE HANDICAPPED