Schemes for promoting education of persons with disabilities in Karnataka State

According to the Census of India, 2001, Karnataka State has 9,40,643 persons with disabilities which is about 1.78% of the total population. 70.3% of the disabled live in rural and 29.7% in urban areas. Also 57.2% of this population is male as compared to 42.8% female. Providing education to all the disabled is a gigantic task. But the Government of Kanrnataka has formulated many Schemes to facilitate education for all categories of disabled. Following are the details of these Schemes:

Types of disabilities covered under the Schemes:

Visually Handicapped
Hearing Handicapped
Orthopaedically Handicapped
Multiple Handicapped
Mentally Retarded
Leprosy cured
Mentally Ill

Schemes for promoting education:

Special Schools for the Disabled:

The Government of Karnataka has established special schools for the disabled. Four schools are for persons with hearing and visual disability each. Each student is provided education, boarding, clothing and medicines free of cost. These Special Schools are enlisted below:

For the Visually Handicapped:

Government School for Blind Children (Boys),
Tilak Nagar, Mysore. (1st to 10th)
Ph: 95821 2497496

Government School for Blind Children (Boys),
Near Siddaruda Matt, Hubli (1st to 7th)
Ph: 95836 2204167

Government School for Blind Children (Boys),
Near Stadium, Gulbarga (1st to 7th)
Ph: 958472 220641

Government School for Blind Students (Girls),
Near Devraj Urs Colony, B Block, 1st Cross,
Near Shivali Talkies, Davangere. (1st to 10th )
Ph: 958192 250442

For the Hearing Handicapped:

Government School for the Deaf Children (Boys),
Tilak Nagar, Mysore (1st to 10th)
Ph: 0821 - 2494104

Government School for the Deaf Children,
Aland, Gulbarga (1st to 10th)
Government School for the Deaf Children,
Bellary (1st to 7th)

Government School for the Deaf Students (Girls),
Belgaum (1st to 7th)

Apart from the above-mentioned Government Schools there are 30 State Government aided Schools and 82 Central Government aided School in Karnataka State. The details of these Special Schools are as follows:

State Government aided Schools:

Schools for the Blind = 07
Schools for the Deaf = 07
Schools for Mentally Retarded = 09
Schools for Orthopeadically Handicapped =11
Vocational Training Centres and ITI = 13

Centre Government aided Schools:

Residential Special School for Visually Impaired = 98
Residential School for Hearing Impaired = 25
Schools for Mentally Retarded = 25
Schools for Orthopeadically Handicapped = 11
Vocational Training Centres and ITI = 13

Facilities in the Special Schools:

Government Braille Press at Mysore prints Braille text books for the blind which are provided free of cost to children who are studying in Government as well as Private Special Schools. In addition, these schools are providing free clothing and medical facilities.

Scholarships to Students:

Government of Karnataka provides scholarships to the disabled children to encourage them and the parents to avail educational facilities available in the State. These scholarships cover students from school to university levels. The details of these scholarships are as follows:

Class I to V:

Monthly scholarship Rs. 50/- (additional Rs. 25/- for hostellers), Reading allowance for the blind Rs. 25/- and Conveyance allowance for the physically handicapped Rs. 25/-

Class VI to X:

Monthly scholarship Rs. 100/- (additional Rs. 25/- for hostellers), Reading allowance for the blind Rs. 25/- and Conveyance allowance for the physically handicapped Rs. 25/-

PUC:

Monthly scholarship Rs. 150/- (additional Rs.140/- for hostellers), Reading allowance for the blind Rs. 75/- and Conveyance allowance for the physically handicapped Rs. 50/-

Degree/TCH:

Monthly scholarship Rs. 200/- (additional Rs. 180/- for hostellers) and Reading allowance for the blind Rs. 75/-

BE/MBBS/LLB:

Monthly scholarship Rs. 250/- ( additional Rs. 240/- for hostellers) and Reading allowance for the blind Rs. 100/-

M.A./M.Sc., M.Com, LLM and equivalent:

Monthly scholarship Rs. 300/- (additional Rs. 240/-for hostellers) and Reading allowance for the blind Rs.100/- .

Scholarships for Meritorious students:

These scholarships are for those students who secure 60% marks in the previous public examinations. They should have at least 40% disability and have passed previous class. They are supposed to submit their applications through Head of the Institution. The quantum of scholarship is as follows:

SSLC = Rs. 500/-
II year/ PUC= Rs. 750/-
Degree = Rs. 1000/-
Post Graduate Course = Rs. 1200/-
Degree in Agriculture Engineering Technology/Veterinary Science ad Medicine = Rs. 1500/-

Other Schemes/Concessions:

The other facilities provided are as follows:
(a) All the educational institutions in the State will proved 3% reservation in the seats available with them and preference will be given for allotting seats in the hostel.
(b) Visually handicapped students can take help of a scribe and extra time is provided depending upon duration of the exam. Some concession about selection of elective subjects is also provided.
(c) Hearing handicapped students are given concession in 2nd and 3rd language and one hour extra time for public examination. Also special stickers are attached to the answer sheets of those appearing in public examinations.

Conclusion:

In its endeavour to provide education to all, the State of Kanrnataka has implemented different schemes formulated for the purpose of promotion of education for the persons with disability.

Note:

The quantum of scholarships and other facilities change from time to time. A person availing any facilities needs to update it from the Department for the Empowerment of Differently Abled and Senior citizens. The contact is as follows:

The Director
Department for the Empowerment of Differently Abled and
Senior Citizens
Podium Block, Vishveswaraiah Tower,
Dr. Ambedkar Road, Bangalore-560 001
Telephone: 080-22866066 , 22866046,22860907
Fax: 080-22868347
Email: dir-dwdsc-ka@nic.in
Website: welfareofdisabled.kar.nic.in