Persons With Disabilities Scheme In Colleges: Financial Assistance To Visually Challenged Teachers

Financial Assistance Scheme for Visually Challenged Teachers in Colleges

The Indian government has initiated a significant scheme aimed at supporting visually impaired permanent educators in their professional journey. This program provides essential financial assistance to help these teachers access necessary teaching aids and resources, ensuring they can continue their contributions to education and research effectively.

Overview of the Scheme

This initiative is designed specifically for visually challenged permanent teachers, enabling them to enhance their teaching and research capabilities. By offering a Reader’s Allowance and funding for various educational materials, the scheme facilitates a more inclusive and supportive environment in educational institutions across India.

Objective

The primary goal of this scheme is to empower visually impaired teachers, allowing them to achieve self-sufficiency through the utilization of various teaching aids and resources necessary for effective education and research.

Benefits of the Scheme

Participating visually challenged teachers will receive an annual allowance of ₹36,000. This financial support is intended for several specific uses:

• Compensation for a Reader
• Acquisition of Braille books and materials
• Purchase of recorded educational materials
• Other essential materials or equipment required for teaching and research purposes

The maximum payment for a Reader’s services is capped at ₹50 per hour. Colleges will reimburse visually impaired teachers based on the actual payments made to the Reader and verified expenses incurred, up to the annual limit of ₹36,000. Original bills must be submitted by the teachers to their respective colleges; however, these documents do not need to be sent to the University Grants Commission (UGC). The scheme will conclude at the end of the current Plan period.

Eligibility Criteria

To qualify for this financial assistance, teachers must meet the following requirements:

• Must be visually challenged
• Currently employed as permanent teachers in colleges that fall under Sections 2(f) and 12B of the UGC Act
• Colleges must be recognized by the UGC

Application Process

How to Apply Offline

The application process consists of the following steps:

1. Obtain the Prescribed Format from the official documentation (refer to Page 09 for details).
2. Complete the application form with all required information.
3. Submit the proposal directly to the relevant Regional Offices of the UGC, including a consolidated list of all visually challenged teachers at the institution. This list should encompass self-financing colleges that are covered under Section 12(B) of the UGC Act, 1956, which are eligible for the grant.

Approval Process by the UGC

Upon submission, the UGC will evaluate and approve the proposal at their discretion. Once approval is granted, the first installment of the eligible grant will be promptly released.

Grant Release Procedure

The initial installment of the grant will be issued along with the approval letter. Future installments will be contingent upon the receipt of the Utilization Certificate for the prior grant, accompanied by a Statement of Expenditure detailing costs incurred in the previous year. Relevant information about visually challenged teachers should be attached to this documentation.

Proposal Submission Format

Colleges are advised to ensure that their proposals are submitted only in the specified format provided by the UGC.

Further Information

For additional details regarding this scheme, please refer to the official source: myScheme.gov.in.