House panel flags ‘casual approach’ of govt. over setting up disability centres

House panel flags ‘casual approach’ of govt. over setting up disability centres

Subject: Polity

Context: The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Social Justice and Empowerment has said that it feels the Union government is “somewhat casual” in setting up DDRC’s.

• Only 55 to 60 District Disability Rehabilitation Centres (DDRC) made functional so far out of the targeted 269 in designated districts.

District Disability Rehabilitation Centres (DDRCs)

• It is an initiative by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
• Aim: To facilitate comprehensive services to Persons with Disabilities in the rural areas.
• These units have a group of rehabilitation professions for providing services like identification of Persons with Disabilities, Awareness Generation, Early Detection and Intervention, Provision / Fitment etc.
• These centres are run jointly by District Management Team headed by DM/Collector and a reputed NGO (Usually Indian Red Cross Society).
• It is a joint venture of Central and State Governments.
• Central Government establishes the centre for three years involving funding for man power contingencies.
• State Government will provide provision basic infrastructure, furniture and coordination of activities through District Management Team (DMT) Chaired by the District Collector and also identification of implementing agency.