Health, Rehabilitation, Reservation and Accessibility

In one line

Sections 25 to 40 provide free healthcare and barrier-free hospitals, insurance for Government employees with disabilities, rehabilitation, research, culture and sport, free education for children with benchmark disabilities, five per cent of seats in higher education, four per cent of posts in Government, incentives for five per cent in the private sector, five per cent in land, housing and poverty schemes, high support, awareness campaigns, and accessibility standards.

Sections 25 to 30: health, rehabilitation and recreation

Section 25, healthcare: the appropriate Government and local authorities shall provide free healthcare in the vicinity, especially in rural areas, subject to such family income as may be notified; barrier-free access in all parts of Government and private hospitals and other healthcare institutions and centres; and priority in attendance and treatment; together with measures to prevent the occurrence of disabilities, including surveys, investigations and research concerning the causes, promotion of preventive methods, and screening of all children at least once a year to identify at-risk cases.

Note that section 25(1)(b) binds private hospitals, which is one of only a few obligations in this Act directly reaching a private body.

Section 26, insurance schemes: the appropriate Government shall, by notification, make insurance schemes for their employees with disabilities. This is one of the weakest sections in the Act: it reaches only Government employees, and only by notification.

Section 27, rehabilitation: services and programmes within their economic capacity and development, particularly in health, education and employment; financial assistance to non-Governmental Organisations; and a duty to consult non-Governmental Organisations working for the cause of persons with disabilities while formulating rehabilitation policies.

Section 28, research and development on issues enhancing habilitation and rehabilitation and the empowerment of persons with disabilities.

Section 29, culture and recreation: facilities, support and sponsorships to artists and writers with disability; establishment of a disability history museum which chronicles and interprets the historical experiences of persons with disabilities; making art accessible; recreation centres; participation in scouting, dancing, art classes, outdoor camps and adventure activities; redesigning courses in cultural and arts subjects; and developing assistive technology.

Section 30, sporting activities: effective participation; due recognition by sports authorities and provision for inclusion in schemes for the promotion of sporting talent; and measures to restructure courses and programmes, redesign and support infrastructure, and develop technology to enhance potential, talent, capacity and ability.

Sections 31 and 32: education entitlements

Section 31: notwithstanding anything contained in the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009, every child with benchmark disability between the age of six to eighteen years shall have the right to free education in a neighbourhood school, or in a special school, of his choice, and the Governments shall ensure access to free education in an appropriate environment till he attains the age of eighteen years.