International Journal of Advanced Research and Development

Authors
Arpit Shailesh, Dr. Taruna

Abstract
According to the Census 2001, there are 2.19 crore persons with disabilities in India who constitute 2.13 percent of the total population. This includes persons with visual impairment, hearing impairment, speech impairment, locomotor impairment and mental disabilities. Seventy five per cent of persons with disabilities live in rural areas, 51 per cent of disabled population is illiterate and only 34 per cent are employed. The earlier emphasis on medical rehabilitation has now been replaced by an emphasis on social rehabilitation with right based approach. There has been an increasing recognition of abilities of persons with disabilities and emphasis on mainstreaming them in the society based on their capabilities. The physically challenged persons are one of the excluded sections of the society and also they face number of problems in their daily life. In order to bring them in the main stream both the central as well as the state governments are introducing many welfare measures and schemes. To avail these welfare measures and the schemes, first of all they must aware about the same. The present study is conducted among the physically challenged persons about their problems in the daily life and also their awareness about various government welfare measures. The result of the present study indicated that the officials who are implementing the welfare measures know only few of the familiar welfare programmes of the physically challenged persons.