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October, 2010
People with disabilities need due recognition and
active participation in mainstream society. It needs to
be inculcated that they are entitled to a normal and
respectable life. Disabled people or rather differently-
abled people, are second to none when it comes to
showcasing their talents. All they need is a conducive
and sensitive environment to realize their potential.
Aimed at addressing the needs of differently-abled
people, SERP has initiated a project to train physically
challenged persons to make them job-ready and
ensure inclusive employment for them. In addition
to enhancing livelihood opportunities, SERP strives
to ensure optimum utilization of residual abilities by
PwDs. Several programmes to improve the quality of
life for PwDs and their families have been initiated.
As an organization SERP is sensitized towards needs of
PwDs and factors their concerns in Policy making and line
activities. In its role of implementing agency, SERP has
improved capacities of PwDs to access and avail various
entitlements and services offered by the government.
The disability interventions are being implemented
in 128 Project mandals in the State. The prime
Objective of the Project is to evolve a model of
institutional relationship between Community Based
Organizations (CBOs) of Persons with Disabilities
and various Government and Non-government
stakeholders. These can be used as resource
mandals to replicate the same throughout the State.
Since Differently-abled people need support
at several levels, SERP has taken a holistic
approach in undertaking several interventions
centered around firstly there Social mobilization
and building institutional support. Secondly
several livelihood support programs are planned
for them supplemented with Community based
Assessment, Treatment and Rehabilitation services.
The nature of interventions warrants that there
is adequate convergence with line departments
particularly Health and Education departments.
There has been extensive coverage of these schemes.
As of June, 2010 around 24,505 SHGs of PwDs having
223081 members have been formed. The livelihood
support programs have resulted in building a capital
base of Rs 158 crore. The assessment, treatment and
rehabilitation services cover 95% of the SHG members.
Lastly in order to bring in better convergence and
transparency, SERP has introduced Software for
Assessment of Disability for Access Rehabilitation
and Empowerment (SADAREM). This involves the
assessment of Persons with Disabilities (both new
as well as existing) and recording the percentage of
disability. The assessment will be done phase wise
and initially will cover persons getting disabled
pensions, followed by Widow and Weavers pensions
and those who do not receive any pension at all.