 THE EDUCATION OF THE HANDICAPPED
 AND SOCIAL AND CHILD WELFARE

COMMITTEES ON THE EDUCATION OF THE HANDICAPPED AND SOCIAL WELFARE

A National Advisory Council for the Education of the Handicapped was appointed in September, 1955, by a Government Resolution. Its main functions are to advise the Government of India on all problems concerning the physically and mentally handicapped and to, fomulate new schemes.

This Ministry's Advisory Board on Social Welfare was reconsti- tuted following the formation of the Central Social Welfare Board in 1953. One of the main functions of this Board is to advise the Government of India on grants to be given to universities and other institutions interested in social work for conducting research in approved fields of Social Welfare.

A sum of Rs. 10,000 has been provided in the budget for 1957-58 for convening meetings of these two advisory bodies and the various special committees set up or due to be set up to deal with specific problems. The existing provision for this purpose is Rs. 13,000.

(Demand No. 21).

Central Braille Press, Dehra Dun.

-The Central Braille Press, Dehra Dun was set up in October, 1950, to produce literature for the blind in the principal Indian languages. The Press has so far produced 30 books in Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, Gujarati, Marathi and English.

From the next financial year it is proposed to introduce a double-shift system at the Press to increase its productive capacity.

Against the existing provision of a sum of Rs. 1,40,000 a sum of Rs. 75,000 has been provided in the budget for the next financial year for the administration of the Press.

The reduced provision for the next financial year is due to the fact that separate provision is proposed to be made for the workshop, for the Manufacture of Braille Appliances that is at present func- tioning on an experimental basis as part of the Press.

Workshop for the Manufacture of Braille Appliances.

-A small workshop for the manufacture of Braille appliances has been functioning as part of the Central Braille Press, Dehra Dun on an experimental basis from 1954-55. During the Second Plan period it is proposed to establish a full-fledged workshop that is expected to produce the majority of the appliances needed in the education of the blind. These appliances are at present imported from abroad.

A sum of Rs. 50,000 has been provided in the budget for the next financial year for recurring expenditure on the workshop.

Transcription of Books into Bharati Braille.

-Owing to the limited, productive capacity of the Central Braille Press, Dehra Dun, it has become necessary to assist poorly financed private institutions for the blind in the country in transcribing their own books into Bharati Braille. This scheme has functioned since 1953-54.

A provision of Rs. 8000 exists in the budget for the current financial year for this purpose. The same amount has been provided in the budget for 1957-58.

'The Deaf in India'

.-Provision of a sum of Rs. 1,400 exists in the budget for the current financial year for giving grant- in-aid to the Convention of the Teachers of the Deaf in India, towards the cost of publication of the quarterly periodical, 'The Deaf in India'. The same amount has been provided in the budget for 1957-58 for this purpose.

Training Centre for the Adult Blind, Dehra Dun

-Established in January, 1950 the Training Centre for the Adult Blind, Dehra Dun imparts training in the cottage industry type of handicrafts to about 150 adult blind men from all parts of the country. From the next financial year it is proposed to reorganise some training courses at present offered by the Centre such as, Music, Braille shorthand type- writing etc. and to introduce training in machine operations and assembly work in order to link training courses more closely with employment prospects.

Against the existing budget provision of a total sum of Rs. 3,15,500 (Rs. 2,64,000 temporary charges and Rs. 51,500 permanent charges) a total sum of Rs. 2,93,000 (Rs. 2,40,000 temporary charges and Rs. 53,000 permanent charges) has been provided in the budget for the next financial year for the administration of the Centre.

Sheltered Workshop for the Blind

-A Sheltered Workshop for the Blind was setup in June, 1954 on an experimental basis as a part of the Training Centre for the Adult Blind, Dehra Dun. Ten

blind workers are now employed in this workshop in chair-caning and the weaving of woollen textiles.

During the Second Plan period it is proposed to expand the work- shop to accommodate 100 workers. Against the existing provision of Rs. 2,00,000 for the running of the workshop in the current financial year, a sum of Rs. 98,000 has been provided in the budget for the next financial year.

Employment Organisation for the Handicapped.

-During the Second Plan period it is proposed to set up an Employment Organisation for the Handicapped that will try to secure remunerative employment for all major groups of handicapped persons. A small office known as the Employment Office of the Training Centre for the Adult Blind has been functioning at Madras since July, 1954. This office has so far been able to secure employment for 52 blind persons.

Against the existing provision of a sum of Rs. 30,000 for this purpose, a sum of Rs. 50,000 has been provided in the budget for the next financial year.

Random Sample Survey of the Handicapped.

- The object of this scheme is to conduct a random sample survey during the Second Plan period in order to collect first-hand information about the inci- dence of various handicaps and to ascertain the educational and socio- economic needs of the major groups of handicapped persons, Standard questionnaires in respect of the deaf, the blind and the orthopaedically handicapped have been drafted. During the current financial year a preliminary survey is proposed to be carried out at Delhi and Bombay.

Against the existing provision of Rs. 30,000 for this purpose a sum of Rs. 50,000 has been provided in the budget for the next financial year.

Assistance to Voluntary Organisations for the Handicapped.

During the Second Plan period it is proposed to give financial assis- tance to voluntary organisations for the handicapped to develop and maintain their existing services and to initiate new services for the handicapped, especially where the Central Social Welfare Board cannot assist. Rules and regulations for this scheme have been finalised and applications have been invited.

A sum of Rs. 2.00,000 has been provided for this purpose in the budget for the next financial year.

Scholarships for the Blind.

-Under this scheme scholarships are awarded to blind persons over the age of 16 for higher academic

education, vocational or professional training. Forty-seven scholar- ships were continued-from last financial year and in addition about 30 new awards have been made in October, 1956.

Against the existing budget provision of Rs. 66,000 a sum of Rs. 75,000 has been provided in the budget for 1957-58 for this purpose.

Scholarships for the Deaf.

-The object of this scheme is to award scholarships to deaf persons over the -age of 16 to enable them to receive technical or vocational training. Fifty candidates were selected last year for award of scholarships subject to their obtaining admission to recognised institutions. Against this -the number of actual awards is 25. This is due to the fact that deaf persons. normally find it difficult to get admissions in ordinary institutions.

Against the existing budget provisions of a sum of Rs. 44,000 a sum of Rs. 50,000 has been provided for 'this purpose in the budget for the next financial year.

Scholarships for the Orthopaedically Handicapped.

-The object of this scheme is to award scholarships to orthopaedically handicapped students at all stages of education including technical. and professional training with a view to meeting the extra expenditure on account of the student's disabilities. Forty-two candidates were selected in the last quarter of 1955-56. These scholarships have been given effect to from 1st April, 1956. No fresh awards have so far been made in the current financial year.

Against the existing provision of Rs. 21,000 a sum of Rs. 35,000 has been provided in the budget for 1957-58.

Scholarships for the Mentally Handicapped

-The object of this scheme is to award scholarships to mentally retarded children of poor parents in order to enable them to go in for special education. The rules and regulations of this scheme have yet to be finalised.

The existing provision of a sum of Rs. 10,000 is proposed to be repeated in the next financial year.

Short-Term Regional Courses for Teachers of the Blind.

-On the recommendation of the Seminar on the Education of the Blind held at Mussoorie in April, 1956, it is proposed to hold short-term regional courses for teachers of the blind until such time as the Model School for Blind Children, Dehra Dun, that will have a Teachers' Training Department, is established. It is expected that one or two such in the budget for the next financial year.

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Against the 1956-57 provision of Rs. 13,000 a sum of Rs. 15,000 has been provided in the budget for the next financial year.

Programme for Construction of Buildings.

- It is proposed to construct new buildings for the following different institutions to be established during the Second Five-Year Plan period:-

1. Model School for Blind Children, Dehra Dun.

2. Women's Section of the Training Centre for the Adult Blind, Debra Dun.

3. Expansion of the existing Training Centre for the Adult Blind, Dehra Dun.

4. Sheltered Workshop for the Blind, Dehra Dun.

5. Workshop for the Manufacture of Braille Appliances, Dehra Dun.

6. Braille Circulating and Talking Book Library, Dehra Dun.

7. Residential Nursery Schools for the Blind.

8. A Model Audiology Centre.

9. A Model School for Deaf Children.

10. A Technical Training Centre for the Adult Deaf.

11. A School for the Mentally Handicapped.

Token provisions for this purpose have been made in the budget for the next financial year.

CENTRAL SOCIAL WELFARE BOARD

The Central Social Welfare Board was set up in August, 1953, under the administrative control of the Ministry of Education and Scientific Research. One of the main objects of this Board is to assist voluntary Social Welfare organisations in maintaining and developing their existing activities and new services and to coordinate these activities into the general pattern of the Five-Year Plan. The Board has also undertaken the programme of establishing Welfare Extension Projects in rural areas, training of gram-sevikas, midwives and dais for the welfare extension projects, Urban Family Welfare Projects etc.

Against the provision of a sum of Rs. 2,12,00,000 for 1956-57 for the activities of the Board, a sum of Rs. 1,40,00,000 has been provided in the budget for the next financial year.

(Demand No. 22).

Grants-in-aid for Research Projects in Social Welfare.

--On the advice of the Advisory Board on Social Welfare grants are made to institutions interested in social work and social sciences for carrying out research projects in this field.

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Against the existing provision of a sum of Rs. 40,000 for this purpose, a sum of Rs. 50,000 has been provided in the budget for the -next financial year.

Grant-in-aid to Institutions Conducting Training and Research in Social Work.

-This Ministry gives grants to institutions imparting training in Social Work in order to help them to maintain and develop their existing facilities. This is important in view of the fact that with the growing stress on social welfare the tempo of training programmes should also be accelerated.

A sum of Rs. 2,00,000 exists for this purpose in the budget for the current financial year and the same amount has been provided in the budget for 1957-58.

Assistance to Voluntary Organisations for Child Welfare.

-During the Second Five-Year Plan it is proposed to give financial assistance to voluntary organisations for child welfare specially for purposes for which Central Social Welfare Board cannot assist.

A sum of Rs. 1,00,000 has been provided for this purpose in the budget for the next financial year.

THE EDUCATION OF THE HANDICAPPED AND SOCIAL AND CHILD WELFARE