Financial assistance to Disabled students pursuing (10th, +1, +2 equivalent exams)

 As per disability survey conducted in 2015 there are 7,93,937 differently abled persons having 21 types of disabilities. A person becomes disabled by birth or because of an accident or disease. The differently abled persons face many hurdles in their day to day life. About 90 percent of the disabled persons may not have received even primary education.  They are forced to give up studies due of various factors, such as difficulty in going to educational institutions and due to inadequate road facilities. The Social Justice Department has initiated a scheme that provides financial assistance to such school dropouts to pursue SSLC, +1, +2 equivalent courses implemented by State Literacy Mission.

Eligibility criteria:-

• Differently abled students with 40% or more disability are eligible to apply

• Financial assistance will be provided to students falling in APL as well as BPL categories.

      Benefits:-

• For SSLC/10th class- Rs. 1750/- for course fee and Rs. 500/- for Exam fee, Rs. 100/- for Registration fee

• +1 class -Rs. 1950/- for course fee and Rs. 700/- for Exam fee, Rs. 100/- for Registration fee, Rs. 200/- for Admission fee

• +2 class-Rs. 1950/- for course fee.

     How to apply

The list of beneficiaries will be prepared based on the applications collected through the Anganwadi workers and enquiry by the concerned Child Development Project Officers (CDPOs). The applications can be submitted to the District Social Justice Officers (DSJOs) also. The DSJOs have to make sure that the applicants have completed their courses and that the certificates issued by State Literacy Mission have been correctly distributed to the respective applicants in that academic year.

Documents

GOs	Financial assistance to Disabled students pursuing (10th, +1, +2 equivalent exams)
Application Forms	Financial assistance to Disabled students pursuing (10th, +1, +2 equivalent exams)

Scholarship for Disabled students pursuing Degree, PG courses (Distance Education)

 Eligibility criteria: -

• Disabled students pursuing Degree, PG courses through Open universities, Distance education or through Private registration (Universities inside Kerala) are eligible to apply for scholarship.

• Annual family income should not exceed Rs. 1,00,000/-

• Disabled students pursuing Degree, PG courses are eligible

• Only those who are appearing for the exam each year will be eligible for further financial assistance.

Benefits:-

1. The scholarship is being provided for meeting the expenses of Registration fee, Course fee, Tuition fee, Exam fee, Purchase of books, study materials, etc. The amount of assistance has been fixed at a maximum of Rs. 10,000/-

How to apply:-

The duly filled application forms have to be submitted to the concerned Child Development Project Officers (CDPOs). The CDPOs have to conduct an enquiry and scrutinize the documents and submit the same to the respective District Social Justice Officers.

Documents to be produced

• Documents registered in University

• Copy of bills, receipts countersigned by the CDPOs (receipts of registration fee, course fee, /tuition fee and bills of purchased study materials and books

• Disability certificate from Medical board/  Disability Identity card

• Certificate showing Annual Income of family from the concerned revenue official

Documents

GOs	Scholarship for Disabled students pursuing Degree, PG courses (Open University, Private Registration, Distance Education)
Application Forms	Scholarship for Disabled students pursuing Degree, PG courses (Open University, Private Registration, Distance Education)

Marriage Assistance to differently abled women and to daughters of differently abled parents

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Parinayam is a novel initiative of Social Justice Department for providing Marriage Assistance to physically handicapped girls and the daughters of physically handicapped parents. Thorough this scheme an amount of Rs.30,000/-.will be provided to the beneficiaries as one time assistance. 

Funding Pattern	Government of Kerala
Benefeciaries	Differently abled women and also to the differently abled parents for the marriage of their daughters
Benefits	A one - time assistance of Rs. 30,000/- is provided to the benefeciaries
Eligibility Criteria	Combined Annual family income should not exceed Rs 1,00,000/-  Applications for Assistance can be submitted for the marriage of 2 daughters. The only condition applicable is that the application for second child's marriage can be submitted only after 3 years after the initial grant of allowance. While submitting the application for marriage assistance the bride should have completed 18 years of age.
Documents	Attested copy of Ration card Disability Identity card Birth Certificate (from Corporation/ Municipality/Panchayath) showing that the bride is the daughter of disabled person  Applicant's Family Income certificate from the concerned Village Officer.
How to avail	The application forms are to be obtained from District Social Justice Offices and to submit to the same office with required documents

 

Documents

GOs	PARINAYAM SCHEME-ANNUAL FAMILY INCOME REVISED GOVT ORDER
GOs	Marriage Assistance to differently abled women and to daughters of differently abled parents
Application Forms	Marriage Assistance to differently abled women and to daughters of differently abled parents

Scholarship for Differently abled Students

 The disabled students studying in Schools, Colleges and those who attending Professional, PG courses and technical trainings are being given scholarship by Social Justice Department. The annual family income of the applicant should be below Rs.36,000/- and they should obtain 40% marks in the examination in the previous year. 

Sl No.	Standard	Day Scholars	Hostel Students	Reader’s allowance
1	Students from Class 1 to Class 4	300	----	200
2	Students from Class 5 to Class 10	500	----	200
3	+1, +2, IT Equivalent courses	750	1000	300
4	Degree, Polytechnic, Equivalent training courses, (Implant training)	1000	1500	400
5	Professional, PG courses	1000	1500	400

Guidelines for applying:-

• Disability category of students (Blind / Deaf / Orthopedically handicapped/ Mental Retardation).

• Disability percentage (40 % or more.)

• Combined Annual income of the family should not exceed Rs 36,000/-

• Those students who have not obtained 40% marks in the examination in the previous year need not apply. 

• In case of Blind students Reader’s allowance will be provided.

How to avail-

1. The applications must be submitted after the commencement of Academic year (within 3 months)

2. The duly filled application forms must be submitted to the concerned District Social Justice Officer. 

3. The Application form must be filled in completely; incomplete as well as late applications will be rejected. 

4. Attested copy of Disability certificate from Medical Board.

5. Income certificate from the concerned Village Officer.

 

Documents

Application Forms	Scholarship for Disabled Students
GOs	Scholarship for Disabled Students

Financial Assistance to visually impaired Advocates

In the scheme for the payment of financial assistance to visually impaired Advocates the annual income of the family should not exceed Rs. 1,00,000/-. The applicant under this scheme shall be eligible for an exgratia non-recurring grant of Rs.3500/- for the purchase of books, provisional suits etc., and they are being paid reader's allowance @ Rs.5000/- per month for a period of 10 years.

The applicant shall satisfy the following conditions for being eligible for financial assistance :-

He/She shall be a native and resident of Kerala State

He/She shall be an advocate practising in anyone or more Courts in Kerala

The combined annual income of the applicant and his/her family from all sources shall not exceed Rs. 1,00,000/-

Documents to be produced with duly filled application form:-

Income certificate issued by the concerned Village Officer in the prescribed form showing the combined annual income of the applicant and his family from all sources.

Certificate in the prescribed form from the Presiding Officer of anyone of the Courts in a Court/Centre where the applicant is practising, to the effect that the applicant is practising as an Advocate in the Court /Centre.

Medical Certificate from an eye specialist in case of visually impaired advocate / Medical certificate from an Ortho specialist in case of Orthopaedically Handicapped advocate

Educational qualifications and professional certificate of both the advocate and reader assistant duly attested by a Gazetted Officer of the State Government. The person engaged as reader assistant for blind advocate should have passed atleast S.S.L.C

The duly filled application forms along with the documents prescribed has to be submitted to the Director of Social Justice

Documents

GOs	Financial Assistance to visually impaired Advocates
GOs	Financial assistance for blind advocates
Application Forms	Financial Assistance to Visually impaired Advocates

Distress Relief Fund for the Differently Abled (Medical Treatment)

 

As per G.O(MS) 4/95 SWD, dated: 24-01-1995, Govt. sanctioned the Distress Relief Fund for the disabled persons. An amount of Rupees One crore has been deposited in Treasury as corpus fund. The interest accrued from the fund is being utilized for giving financial assistance for disabled persons for the following purposes:

For medical treatment, including surgery.

To persons who become handicapped due to accidents.

For any other purpose which are not covered by the existing schemes for the handicapped.

The maximum amount of financial assistance per person a year has been fixed at Rs.5,000.

Those handicapped persons whose annual income does not exceed (Rs 20,000/- in Rural areas and Rs. 22,375/- in Urban area) shall be eligible for financial assistance. Physically handicapped persons shall include the following categories:-

a. Blind

b. Deaf and Dumb

c. Orthopaedically Handicapped

d. Mentally Challenged

e. Persons in BPL category having 40 % disability or more

Applications for financial assistance can be submitted to the concerned District Social Justice Officer (DSJO). The DSJO shall forward the applications to the Secretary to Govt.- Social Justice Department in the Secretariat with recommendations duly certifying the eligibility after personal enquiry in the individual cases with copy to the Director of Social Justice.

Documents

Application Forms	Distress Relief Fund for the Differently Abled- Application Form
Internal Orders	Distress Relief Fund-Issuance to dependant also
GOs	Distress Relief Fund for the Disabled-Govt Order

Scheme for providing Assistive devices to Differently abled persons

 It has been identified that there are 7,94,834 persons having 22 different types of disabilities as per the 2015 Disability survey conducted in Kerala, in which majority of them are suffering financially. Due to mobility impairment the Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) encounter many barriers to education, while travelling, earning job, etc.

Social Justice Department has initiated a new scheme which provides assistive devices to differently abled persons for improving their quality of life in terms of mobility, communication and for performing their daily activities. There are a wide range of assistive devices available to meet the needs of person with disabilities like Joy stick operated Wheel chair, Smart Phone with screen Reader, Daisy Player, CP Wheel Chair, Talking Calculator, etc.  By use of these Aids & assistive devices, people with disabilities become independent and their participation in the society increases.

Eligibility Criteria

• Disabled persons with 40% or more disability are eligible to apply

• Combined annual family income should not exceed Rs. 1,00,000/-

• Those PWDs who have already received assistive devices from Agencies/ Non-Governmental organizations/Government organizations are not eligible to apply.

• The Medical Board should certify that the applicant is capable to use the assistive device.

The District Social Justice Officers must invite applications through Newspaper advertisements as well as through Anganwadi centres and the applications thus received will be scrutinized by Child Development Project Officers.  The eligible beneficiaries will be provided with the assistive devices purchased through open tender/ or from accredited agencies.

Documents

Application Forms	Scheme for providing Assistive devices to Differently abled persons
GOs	Scheme for providing Assistive devices to Differently abled persons
GOs	Purchase of Goods & Services by Govt Depts, PSUs etc
Internal Orders	Scheme for providing Assistive devices to Differently abled persons

VIDYAKIRANAM SCHEME-EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE TO CHILDREN OF DISABLED PARENTS

Social Justice Department has initiated a new comprehensive scheme called ‘Vidyakiranam’ that provides educational assistance to children of differently abled parents (disability for both parents/ disability for anyone parent) who are economically deprived. From each category educational assistance will be provided to 25 children from each district for duration of 10 months. The children have been categorized as follows:-

Sl No.	Class	Scholarship Rate
1.	Standard 1 to 5	Rs. 300/-
2.	Standard 6 to 10	Rs. 500/-
3.	+1, +2, ITI equivalent courses	Rs. 750/-
4.	Degree, Post-Graduation, Polytechnic, equivalent courses, training Courses, professional Courses	Rs. 1000/-

Eligibility criteria

• Scholarship will be provided to children of disabled parents belonging to BPL category.

• The disability of father/ mother must be 40 percentage or above.

• Copy of BPL ration card / Income certificate from the concerned Village Officer.

• Copy of Medical board certificate showing percentage of disability.

• Attested copy of Disability ID card.

Guidelines

• Scholarship will be provided to all classes for duration of 10 months.

• Assistance will be provided as onetime for each class.

• Those benefiting from other educational assistance schemes are not eligible to apply under this scheme.

• Applicants pursuing courses from Govt. approved Institutions are eligible to apply. Students pursuing courses from parallel colleges and doing part time courses need not apply.

The duly filled application forms must be forwarded through the respective Institution heads to the concerned District Social Justice Officers. The scholarship amount will be transferred to the bank account of the eligible beneficiaries.

Documents

GOs	Vidhyakiranam project- administrative sanction accorded reg
GOs	Vidyakiranam scheme-Educational Assistance to children of disabled parents
Application Forms	Vidyakiranam scheme-Educational Assistance to children of disabled parents

Vidyajyothi scheme- Financial aid for uniforms and study materials to PH students

Social Justice Department with the help of Kerala Social Security Mission conducted a State-wide disability survey and it has been identified that there are 7,79,793 differently abled persons out of which 1,30,799 persons are below the age of 18 years. For the educational upliftment of such PH students, Social Justice Department has initiated a new scheme called ‘Vidyajyothi’ scheme that provides financial assistance for purchase of uniforms and study materials.

Financial assistance is being provided to students whose disability percentage is 40% or above on the following basis:-

Sl No	Course / Class	Assitance for Study materials	Assitance for Uniform
1.	9th to 10th Standard	@ Rs. 1000/- each (50 children from each district)	@ Rs. 1500/- (30 children from each district)
2.	+1, +2, ITI, Polytechnic, VHSC	@ Rs. 2000/- each (50 children from each district)	@ Rs. 1500/- each (30 children from each district)
3.	Degree, Diploma, Professional Courses	@ Rs. 3000/- each (25 children from each district)	Nil
4.	Post Graduation	@ Rs. 3000/- each (20 children from each district)	Nil

Eligibility Criteria:-

• The applicant must be studying in Government / Aided Institution.

• Attested copy of certificate issued by the Medical Board proving that the applicant has 40% or more disability.

• Applicant’s annual family income is not applicable under this scheme.

• The Head of Institution should attest the duly filled application form.

• Priority must be given to BPL category students.

The duly filled application form has to be submitted to the concerned District Social Justice Officers.

Documents

GOs	Vidyajyothi scheme- Financial aid for uniforms and study materials to PH students
GOs	Vidyajyothi scheme- Financial aid for uniforms and study materials to PH students
Application Forms	Vidyajyothi scheme- Financial aid for uniforms and study materials to PH students

Swasraya scheme for parents/ mothers of PH/MR persons

 Parents of severely mentally retarded and differently abled persons require emotional strength and flexibility. Older parents can find themselves overwhelmed by various medical, caregiving and financial responsibilities. PH/MR persons always need special care and attention since they cannot perform their day to day activities without someone else’s assistance. Sometimes it can be quite challenging for older parents in BPL families, especially mothers, who have to take care of household tasks and work apart from taking care of MR persons.

Looking after such Mentally challenged/PH person is expensive. These expenses can arise from medical equipment and supplies, medical care, caregiving expenses, specialized transportation, etc. Even though an amount of Rs. 525/- is being provided as Aswasakiranam pension to care givers (family members) of bedridden PH/MR persons, it cannot cover the expenses completely. Single mothers face tremendous challenges. Often, a custodial parent must fulfill the roles of primary provider and caregiver without the benefit of a partner. It is a difficult task under the best of circumstances.

Social Justice Department has devised an innovative scheme called “Swasraya” which provides financial assistance to such single mothers which will enable them to find self-employment.  An amount of Rs 35,000/- is being provided to the beneficiaries as one time assistance.

Eligibility criteria:-

·         Applicant must be from BPL family.

·         Parents (mothers) with children having 70% or more disability / mental retardation.

·         Mothers of severely disabled/mentally challenged bed-ridden patients will be given priority.

·         Single/Unwed mothers/Wives abandoned by husbands/Legally divorced women/Separated women are eligible to apply under this scheme.

·         Close relatives (women- as mentioned in the above category) who act as care takers of severely disabled/mentally challenged patients can also apply.

·         Application along with detailed project report about the self-employment has to be submitted to the concerned District Social Justice Officers.

·         Beneficiaries of Aswasakiranam scheme can also submit applications.

Guidelines:-

The duly filled application form has to be submitted to the concerned District Social Justice Officers

Documents

Application Forms	Swasraya scheme for parents (single mothers) of PH/MR persons
GOs	Swasraya scheme for parents (single mothers) of PH/MR persons

Psycho social programme for destitute mentally ill persons

Mental illness has its various grades, from minor, where it can be treated if there is an appropriate early intervention, to the extreme, which could result in violence of various proportions. Being an illness, it requires treatment but the stigma and discrimination associated with it most often results in ignoring the treatment which leads to a reversible condition. Due to this and other various factors, a large number of destitute mentally ill persons are reaching in the streets.

A large majority of them are from outside the state and generally they are concentrated in pilgrimage centres, religious places, hospitals, railway stations, bus stands and border pockets. It is a very big challenge in every society to provide a proper care and protect the human rights of the poor destitute mentally ill persons and the safe and security of the society in general.

Operationalization of scheme

First priority will be given for immediate rescue and rehabilitation of mentally ill persons who are in the street. For this purpose, grant will be provided to NGO or local self-government institutions for starting the care home with the priority of at least one institution par district headquarters. Some local self-governments have constructed buildings for care Institutions and if the local self-government is interested to start a care home for mentally ill persons in the already developed Institutions they will be provided with assistance for this purpose. District Panchayat and Corporation municipality will be given priority and if the building is constructed by grama panchayat or block panchayat they can run the institution with partnership of district Panchayat and NGOs.

Under this program Panchayat will provide infrastructure facilities and the fund  for running the institution will be provided by the government as per the scheme the panchayat can run the institution based on the m o u with credible NGO having experience in the field of learning institution for similar category. The care Institutions established under the PWD act and the rules there under are also eligible for grant in aid under the scheme. If government hospitals have the infrastructure facilities and building to run such a home they can also enter into an MOU with the credible NGO having experience in care Institution and run the institution.

In such cases the health department will provide necessary infrastructure facilities to NGOs based on IMO you and the repair modification renovation will be done by the Social Justice Department and NGO will be provided the grant in aid by Social Justice Department based on the MOU. In such a home the health facilities will be provided by the health department and care facilities will be provided by NGO.

This type of Institution will be treated as an intake Institution and the inmates in the institution will be categorised and after the initial care and treatment they will be interested to their parents or relatives or repatriated in their home state if this is not possible they will be interested to care Institutions already established for this purpose.

Targeted beneficiaries under this scheme

The scheme will apply:-

1. To the orphaned mentally ill persons in the streets as defined under rule 2 (h) of the Kerala Registration of the Psycho-Social Rehabilitation Centres of Mentally ill persons rules, 2012.

2. To the treated and controlled mentally ill persons or cured mental persons after their discharge from the mental health centres, including private institutions.

Types of Institutions/agencies eligible for assistance

Institutions can be managed by the following agencies

1. Credible NGOs having upload license under persons with disabilities act and the Kerala registration of psychosocial rehabilitation centres of mentally ill persons rules, 2012.

2. Local self-government institutions such as Panchayat / Municipality / Corporation can also run the institutions in partnership with credible NGO based on specific MOU.

3. Government departments or board can also run the institution in partnership with the credible NGO based on specific MOU.

Documents

GOs	Establishing care homes/ institutions to protect and treat mentally ill persons