Disabled employees may get motorised wheelchairs, other aid

Disabled employees working with central government may soon get motorised wheelchairs and other helping devices.
The Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) has started a scheme for providing facilities to the employees with disabilities. However, the scheme is initially being started for those working in the DoPT.
The objective of the scheme is to enable and empower persons with disabilities of the department by providing certain additional facilities to help them discharge their duties more conveniently and effectively, an order issued by the DoPT said.
As per the scheme, which will come into force from next month, persons with disabilities will get wheelchairs (motorised), special furniture, hearing aids with battery, low vision aids, smart cane and special software or computer.

Besides, there will be braille signage near lift area, toilets and canteens, and provision of beep sound in biometric attendance system, it said.
Employees with disability would be given option to apply for the assisting aids through proper channel, which will be examined on case to case basis and decided with the approval of competent authority, the DoPT said.
"After successful implementation of the scheme in DoPT, other government departments will also be asked to follow it," a senior official said.