Health
It is an established fact that people with disabilities use public health services more than people without disabilities. Barriers to health facilities, the huge gap in terms of health services available for disabled and non-disabled people in the country and issues such as inaccessible buildings, diagnostic equipment, inaccessible transport to reach the health centre, the sheer expense of treatment/rehabilitation are rife. Health services need to cater to all, including people with disabilities, and a concerted effort is needed from all concerned stakeholders.
Baseline Report
The Baseline Report on Health 
attempts to understand the existing Health Policies, Programmes and Schemes and their impact on the lives of people with disabilities, the Union and State Budget allocations and utilisation, and finally, to list out emerging concerns and basic recommendations for further discussion.
List of Members
- Convenor: Ms. Radhika M. Alkazi. Managing Trustee & Director, Alternative Strategies for the Handicapped (ASTHA)
- Co-Convenor: Mr. Javed Abidi. Honorary Director, National Centre for Promotion of Employment for Disabled People
- Mr. Arun Rao. Executive Director, The Deaf Way Foundation
- Mr. A. S. Narayanan. Secretary, National Association of the Deaf
- Mr. J.P. Gadkari. Honorary Secretary, Karnataka Parents Association for Mentally Retarded Citizens (KPAMRC)
- Mr. Kapil Kumar Agarwal. Honorary General Secretary, Viklang Sahara Samiti Delhi
- Mr. Ketan Kothari. Programme Officer, Sightsavers
- Ms. Shampa Sengupta. Director, Sruti Disability Rights Centre
- Mr. Suhas Karnik. Hon. Joint Secretary, Blind Men’s Association
- Mr. T.D. Dhariyal. Dy. Chief Commissioner
- Mr. Vineet Chawdhry. Joint Secretary, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare
- Dr. Arbind Prasad. Joint Secretary, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment
Initiatives
RTI on the issue of Aids & Appliances:
NCPEDP filed an Application under the Right to Information Act, asking for information regarding the implementation of the provision vis-a-vis aids & appliances for people with disabilities in the Eleventh Five Year Plan. It is stated in the Plan that the income ceiling for availing assistance will be raised to Rs. 10,000 per month and the ceiling for purchase/fitting of aids and appliances should also be enhanced to Rs. 25,000 per month.
The Summary of the RTI Application and the Response from the Government of India are available for download here.
