Self-Employment and Persons With Disability

Legal Provisions :

Section-40, 43(b) and 43(f) of PWD Act, 1995 have statutory provision to promote self-employment possibilities of PWDs. These provisions are –

Reservation in poverty alleviation scheme :

Section-40 : The appropriate Government and local authorities shall reserve not less than three per cent in poverty alleviation schemes for the benefit of PWDs.

Preferential allotment of land :

Section-43 : The appropriate Government and local authorities shall by notification frame scheme in favour of PWDs for the preferential allotment of land at concessional rates for –
Sub-Section (b) : Setting up business;
Sub-Section (f) : Establishment of factories by entrepreneurs with disabilities.

RESERVATION & RELAXATION :

1. 3% reservation in poverty alleviation schemes/programmes (SGSY, SGRY, IAY etc.) and other schemes like KVIC, KVIB, SJSRY have been provided to PWDs. The PWDs belonging to SC/ST or women may avail loan under scheme of NSFDCs and Rastriya Mahila Kosh (RMK). The poor PWDs can avail loan under DRI scheme also.
2. Exclusive NHFDC scheme have been launched (1997) by Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment to provide financial suppor t to cross disability sector including parents association of MR persons for self-employment and pursuing higher education.
3. 10 years upper age relaxation have been provided in PMRY.
   
4. 7.5% reservation in allotment of dealership of petroleum products, have been earmarked.
5. Top priority in allotment of STD/PCO have been provided by BSNL.
6. Self Help Groups of PWDs can be formed with 5 disabled members only and subsidy under SGSY is allowed up to 50% or 1.25 lakh whichever is less. Micro finance up to Rs.25,000/- per member is available under NHFDC scheme.
7. The Government of Orissa has provided 10% reservation to PWDs for allotment of Government retail shops.