integrated education for disabled children(IEDC 1974)

This programme, which is centrally sponsored, was introduced in 1974 by the Department of Social Welfare. But since 1982, the Scheme has been under the Department of Education. The programme aims to integrate disadvantaged students into the regular educational system. The States/UTs get complete support for educating children with certain moderate disabilities in regular classrooms with the use of the required aids, rewards, and specially qualified instructors.

The programme covers the following categories of impaired kids:

  • children with physical disabilities (O.H.)
  • moderate to mild hearing impairment.
  • kids who are partially sighted.
  • people with education needs who are mentally ill (1Q 50-70).
  • children with a variety of disabilities (blind and orthopaedic, hearing impaired and orthopedic, educable mentally retarded and orthopaedic, visual impaired and mild hearing handicap).
  • youngsters with learning difficulties.

Under this programme, children with disabilities are given the following benefits and amenities:

  • A 400 rupee annual stipend for books and stationery.
  • uniform payment of 50 rupees annually.
  • A monthly transportation allowance of 50 rupees (if a disabled child admitted under the scheme resides in a hostel of the school within the school premises, no transportation charges would be admissible).
  • After class V, blind students will get a reader’s stipend of Rs. 50 per month.
  • Escort allowance for children with severe disabilities and lesser extermity disabilities is offered at Rs. 75 per month.
  • Actual equipment costs are limited to Rs. 2,000 per student during a five-year term.

Children with severe orthopaedic disabilities may require one attendant for every ten students in a classroom. The attendant may receive the regular pay scale established for Group “D” personnel in the relevant States/U.Ts.
Children with disabilities who live in school hostels at the same institution where they are enrolled may also get boarding and lodging benefits as permitted by State Government policies.

In the absence of a state programme for scholarships for hostel residents, parents of handicapped children whose income does not exceed Rs. 3,000 per month may pay the actual cost of boarding and lodging up to a limit of Rs. 200 per month.

Children with severe orthopaedic disabilities who live in school dormitories may require the assistance of a helper or an ayah, a special wage, or Rs. 50 per hour. Is acceptable to any hostel staff member prepared to provide this assistance to kids outside of their regular responsibilities.

The initial cost for the acquisition of a school rickshaw for the free use of disabled children, as well as expenditures for the rickshaw puller of Rs. 300 per month, would be covered under the initiative in a rural school where at least 10 handicapped students are registered. The pupils won’t receive any transportation assistance in such circumstances.