Focal Points in Different States & UTs of Govt. of India to address grievances of Persons with Disabilities during COVID19

Dear Colleagues

Government of India has facilitated the following list of Focal Points in different States/ Union Territories to address and attend to the Grievances of Persons with Disabilities during COVID19:

The contact details of the Focal Point at the Central level of Govt. of India is:-

Shri Vikash Prasad
Director
Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities,
Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment
Room No. 5, B-I Block, Antyodaya Bhawan,
CGO Complex, Lodhi Road, New Delhi - 110003 (India)
vikash[dot]prasad[at]nic[dot]in

Here are the Contact details of Officers in different States/ UTs of India that have been given in the following order :-

S.Number
Name of State/UT
First Contact Details
Second Contact Details
Third Contact Details

1
Andaman & Nicobar
Ms. Ankita Mishra Bundela
Secretary (Social Welfare Department),
Andaman and Nicobar Administration,
Secretariat, Port Blair-744101
secyship.and@nic.in


2
Andhra Pradesh
Ms. K. Damyanti ,
Principal Secretary,
Social Welfare Department, Government of Andhra Pradesh
9100778087
peshisw1@gmail.com
peshi.wcdsc@gmail.com
M.A.Kumar Raja,
Deputy Director, Welfare of Differently Abled, Transgender & Sr.  Citizens, D.Number.74-14-2, 1st floor, rajanarendra building, Krishna Nagar, yanamalakuduru road, Vijayawada-520 007
94907 20301

3
Arunachal Pradesh
Ms. Niharika Rai
Secretary
Department of Women & Child Development, Social Justice & Empowerment & Tribal Affairs,
Govt. of Arunachal Pradesh,
Itanagar-791111
Mobile No. 8919173853

4
Assam
Shri K J Hilaly
State Commissioner of PwDS
Government of Assam
9435080266
Joint Director
9453182377

5
Bihar
Shri Atul Prasad,
Principal Secretary,
Department of Social Welfare,
Government of Bihar, Patna-800015, Bihar
09431005001
Email: swbihar@gmail.com
secysw-bih@nic.in 

6
Chhattisgarh
Shri Prassna R
Seceratary  social welfare
Govt.of chhattisgarh
94061 00100

7
Delhi
Shri Santosh Kumar Section officer
 Office of State commissioner PwDs, GNCT of Delhi
 85270 77845
Dr. A. Madhavi
DD disabilities
Deptt of Social welfare
GNCTD
9013270156
Sh. Nitish Mohan Tripathi
State Coordinator UDID project
9873936472

8
Goa
Shri S. K. Bhandari ,
Secretary,
Department of Social Welfare,
Government of Goa,
Porvorim-4035211,
Goa.
Mobile No. 9643335576
Email Id:- socialwelfaregoa@rediffmail.com
Shri Santano Fernandes
Deputy State Commissoner of Persons with Disabilities, Govt. of Goa
98814 35463

9
Gujarat
Shri MaNumberj Aggarwal
Principal Secretary,
Department of Social Justice & Empowerment,
Govt. of Gujarat,
Sardar Patel Bhawan, Block-5, 9th floor, Sachivalaya,
Gandhinagar-382010
Email: secswd@gujarat.gov.in
Mobile: 09978444105
Shri Dina Nath Pandey
State Commissoner of Persons with Disabilities, Govt. of Gujarat
9978406491

10
Haryana
Shri Dinesh Shastri
State Commissioner of Persons with Dsiabilities, Govt. of Haryana
Mobile Number:- 90500 80529


11
Jharkhand
Dr. Amitabh Kaushal,
Secretary,
Department of Women Child Development & Social Security,
Govt. of Jharkhand,
Room Number.304, Project Building, Dhurwa
Ranchi-834004,
Jharkhand.
Email: swdjharkhand@gmail.com
Mob: 09430119083
Shri Satish Chandra
State Commissioner of Persons with Disabilities
94312 71428

12
Kerala
Shri Biju Prabhakar
Special Secretary,
Social Justice Department,
Government of Kerala,
Mob: 9447035355
E-mail: sjsecykerala@gmail.com
Dr. G. Harikumar
State Commissioner of Persons with Disabilities, Govt. of Kerala
9447743797

13
Madhya Pradesh
Shri Sandeep Rajak
State Commissioner of PwDs
9425139344
Shri Sunil Sharma
Assistant Director
9752405244

14
Maharashtra
Prerna Deshbratar
State Commissioner, Disabilities, Maharashtra State, Govt. of Maharashtra, 3, Church Road. Pune – 411 001


15
Manipur
Shri. V. Vumlunmang
Principal Secretary, Social welfare and Health
Govt. of Manipur,
Imphal, Manipur.
Mobile- 09436034934
Email: jacinthalazarus@gmail.com
Shri. L. Dhaneshwor Singh
Child Welfare Officer
Social Welfare Department
Mobile Number:- 94360 27993

16
Meghalaya
Shri Sanjeet K Seal,
State Numberdal Officer,
UDID Project, Meghalaya
Mobile Number: 9436101358
Smti Bridget Warshong,
Asst Commissioner for PwDs, Govt of Meghalaya
Mobile Number: +919863086563
Shri Dylan Robby Syiem
State Coordinator UDID Project, Meghalaya
Mobile Number: 8415927160

17
Mizoram
Smt. Marli Vankung
Secretary,
Department of Social Welfare,
Govt. of Mizoram, Aizwal, Mizoram.
Mobile: 09436155461
Office : 0389 - 2318212
Email: socdepmiz@gmail.com
Dr. Ankita Chakravarty, IAS
Director
Social Welfare & Tribal Affairs
Social Welfare Department
Govt. of Mizoram
Mobile : 08289008855
Office : 0389 - 2395044
Email : Mizoramswd@gmail.com
Shri. F.Vanlalruata
State Coordinator, UDID Project
Mizoram
Mobile : 8974144424
Email : Mizoramswd@gmail.com

18
Nagaland
Smti Sarah. R. Ritse
Secretary,
Department of Social Welfare,
Govt. of Nagaland,
Kohima-797004.
Ms Diethono Nakhro
State Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities, Govt. of Nagaland
Mobile Number:- 8258953837
Email Id :-

19
Odisha
Shri Bhaskar Jyoti Sharma
Principal Secretary,
Department of Social Security & Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities,
Government of Odisha,
SIDR Building, Capital Hospital Campus, Unit-6,
Bhubaneshwar-751001
Odisha.
Ms. Sulochna Das
State Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities, Govt. of Odisha
Mobile Number:- 98610 80699

20
Puducherry
Shri.Ashokan.S
The Director,
Department of Social Welfare/Department of Women and Child Development,
Puducherry
Mobile Number:9443635370
Smti. Kalavady.D,
The Deputy Director
Numberdal Officer(COVID 2019)
Department of Social Welfare
Puducherry
Mobile Number: 9600219478
Smti. Kamalakumari V
The Superintendent(Establishment),
Staff Incharge(COVID 2019),
Department of Social Welfare,
Puducherry
Mobile Number:8637466067

21
Punjab
Shri Davinder Singh
Superintendent, O/O Director Social Security, Punjab
Mobile Number: 9888880363
Shri Gagandeep Shahi
State Coordinator , UDID, Punjab
Mobile Number: 9876377800
COVID 19:
The Department of Social Security and Women and Child Development ,Punjab has set up helpline service exclusively Persons with Hearing and Speech difficulties. They can use  the following WhatsApp Video Calling Helpline number to converse in Indian sign language:-
9888176357 ( Nitesh Sharma)
T&C
*Only Hearing/ speech  impaired Individuals Can Call .
*Plan your calls and Inform The Interpreter Before any Visit To the Doctor.
*Use Videocall During 9 am to 6 pm.
*Calls Between 10pm to 8 am are only for Emergency.
*Remember-Interpreters are not”Medical-Experts”

22
Rajasthan
Shri B.P Chandel
Deputy Director
Directorate of Specially Abled Persons, Rajasthan
Mobile number: +91 99283 09095

23
Sikkim
Shri K. Srineevasulu,
Principal Secretary
Social Justice, Empowerment & Welfare Department,
Govt. of Sikkim,
Samaj Kalyan Bhawan,
Lumsey, 5th Mile,
Gangtok-737102,
Sikkim.
Mobile No. 8919173853
Email: yangchenbhutia63@gmail.com

24
Tamil Nadu
Shri C. Vijayaraj Kumar
Secretary,
Department of Welfare of Differently Abled Persons
Govt. of Tamil Nadu,
Chennai-600078
Tamil Nadu.
Email: secywdap@tn.gov.in
Mobile Number : 0950037711
Thiru. Johny Tom Vargease I. A. S
State Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities/ Director for Welfare of the Differently Abled
Email. Scd.tn@gmail.com
Mobile. +918800656753
Corona Virus 24X7 Helpline for Persons with Disabilities & Senior Citizens 18004250111 (Toll Free) WhatsApp & Video Call Helpline for Persons with Hearing and Speech Impairments to communicate with Sign Language Interpreters 9700799993

25
Telangana
Shri M. Jagadeeswar
Principal Secretary,
Department of Women & Child Welfare & Disabled Welfare,
Government of Telagana,
Hyderabad.
Mobile: 09849792093
Email: wcdsctg2014@gmail.com
Ms. Shailaja
Director and State Commissioner of PwDs
Department of Women & Child Welfare & Disabled Welfare,
Government of Telagana,
Hyderabad.
Mobile: 98499 05475
Email: wcdsctg2014@gmail.com

26
Tripura
Dr Deep Kumar Debbarma
State Surveillance Officer
7005513426, 9862670872
Shri Anant Das
(Superintendent of Police): 9436949241, 9612150583

27
Uttar Pradesh
Shri Mahesh Kumar Gupta
Addl. Chief Secretary,
Department of Disabled Welfare,
Govt. of Uttar Pradesh,
Room No.732, 7th Floor,
Bhapu Bhawan, Sachivalaya,
Lucknow-226001, Uttar Pradesh
Mobile Number: 09161737373
Email: psred2016@gmail.com
Shri S. K Shrivastav
State Commissioner of Persons with Disabilities, Uttar Pradesh
Mobile Number:- 95999 14539

28
Uttarakhand
Major Yogendra Yadav
State Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities,
Govt. of Uttarakhand
Mobile. 99105 61116

29
West Bengal
Control Room 1070.            

033-22143526
 
30
Karnataka
Shri Basavaraju V S

State commissioner for Persons with Disabilities 

Mobile number +919449869430

The World "Handicapped" is banned in Haryana

Dear Colleagues,

In the recent past Govt. of Haryana  initiated a network of social infrastructure in every district that includes old age homes, special accessible school infrastructure for four major disabilities to include persons with disabilities in the mainstream. Several quarters who advocated inclusion in all spheres of life including education etc were quite critical of this step while the State Government's decision was more in line with providing better infrastructure in specialized and state of the art institutions which could become pivotal institutions to empower the disabled people to inclusion. In addition to this, other educational institutions are also being made inclusive.

Now in yet another positive step towards a rights based and inclusive society where marginalized segments are accorded full respect and dignity, it has come out with an official announcement banning the usage of the word "Handicapped" in the State since it violated and undermined the dignity of persons with disabilities. Not only  that, it went on to even discourage the world "differently abled" since this focuses on differential dimension hence not inclusive. This is a very positive step and the officials responsible for this remarkable step must be congratulated. 

The larger issue is now to implement this and I am sure State had already done its bit to a good extent by highlighting this in the media and through various means so that the state machinery at all levels understand the "persons first approach" or People-First Language.

As per Wiktionary the word  "Handicap" means-  An allowance of a certain amount of time or distance in starting, granted in a race (or other contest of skill) to the competitor possessing disadvantages; or an additional weight or other hindrance imposed upon the one possessing advantages, in order to equalize, as much as possible, the chances of success.  Eg. 

• The older boy won, even though his opponent had been granted a handicap of five meters.
• A handicap in chess often involves removal of the queen's rook.

It also means a race, for horses or men, or any contest of agility, strength, or skill, in which there is an allowance of time, distance, weight, or other advantage, to equalize the chances of the competitors.

Thus,  person may have a disability  and not handicaps and it is derogatory to refer to an individual with the a noun "handicapped".  This announcement is in line with Article 8 of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities which is reproduced below:

Article 8 - Awareness-raising

1. States Parties undertake to adopt immediate, effective and appropriate measures:

1. To raise awareness throughout society, including at the family level, regarding persons with disabilities, and to foster respect for the rights and dignity of persons with disabilities;
2. To combat stereotypes, prejudices and harmful practices relating to persons with disabilities, including those based on sex and age, in all areas of life;
3. To promote awareness of the capabilities and contributions of persons with disabilities.

Measures to this end include:

1. Initiating and maintaining effective public awareness campaigns designed:
   1. To nurture receptiveness to the rights of persons with disabilities;
   2. To promote positive perceptions and greater social awareness towards persons with disabilities;
   3. To promote recognition of the skills, merits and abilities of persons with disabilities, and of their contributions to the workplace and the labour market;
2. Fostering at all levels of the education system, including in all children from an early age, an attitude of respect for the rights of persons with disabilities;
3. Encouraging all organs of the media to portray persons with disabilities in a manner consistent with the purpose of the present Convention;
4. Promoting awareness-training programmes regarding persons with disabilities and the rights of persons with disabilities.

Here is the news coverage of the announcement in Indian Express:

Haryana bans use of word 'handicapped'

Wednesday, April 18, 2012, 

Chandigarh: Haryana government has banned the use of expression 'handicapped' saying it violates and undermines the dignity of persons with disability. 

An official spokesman said the expression 'handicapped' was against the spirit of the Constitution, the Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act, 1995, and, the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities to which India was also a state party. 

He said the use of such other expressions as 'differently abled' would also be discouraged as such an expression harps more on the differentiality dimension whereas there was a need to promote equality dimension. 

Wherever such description was both necessary and relevant, such persons would be described as persons with disability or as persons with blindness, persons with speech and hearing impairment or persons with locomotor disability. 

He said national institutes like National Institute for the Visually Handicapped and National Institute for Hearing Handicapped should also be renamed appropriately. 

PTI 

A focal point in the PMO can facilitate early implementation of UNCRPD

Dear friends,

The demand and mandate for creating focal points for monitoring of implementation of Disabilities Act & UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with disabilities in India is growing bigger & louder. The activists are demanding two or more focal points within in the Government and outside the Government.

One such focal point can be a National Advisor to the Prime Minister within the PMO. Article 33 of UNCRPD mandates that the  States Parties shall, in accordance with their legal and administrative systems, maintain, strengthen, designate or establish within the State Party, a framework, including one or more independent mechanisms, as appropriate, to promote, protect and monitor implementation of the present Convention (read UN CRPD).

The UNCRPD also mandates that the Civil society, in particular persons with disabilities and their representative organizations, should be involved and should participate fully in the monitoring process.

The existing Central Coordination Committee (CCC) (proposed to be renamed as Central Advisory Committee in the amendments suggested by MSJ&E in the PWD Act 1995) should remain the second focal point to facilitate implementation of the convention and disablity related laws, rules and regulation in the country.  However, this body needs to be strengthened and made accountable to people. This would be possible by prominent involvement of civil society and persons with disability in general on such bodies.

The statement of former CJ of Delhi High Court is very relevant and echoes the sentiments of the disability sector. The disability sector has been a witness to myriad of problems of in-coordination among various ministries on the issues related to disabilities which has resulted in growing discomfort in the citizens with disability in India.

regards

SC Vashishth, Advocate

To read the news from source, click on the news title here: 'We need a national advisor to PM on disability'

In order to ensure the rights of people with disabilities, there is a need for a national advisor on the subject to the prime minister, former chief justice of the Delhi High Court Ajit Prakash Shah said Thursday.

'There is a need for a national advisor on disability to the prime minister, as it will help in bridging the gap between policies and ground realities,' Shah said at the inauguration of a two-day meet on the disability sector in the capital.

'This step will also help India fully implement the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disability (CRPD) of which it is a signatory,' he added.

The CRPD requires its signatories to promote, protect, and ensure the full enjoyment of human rights by people with disabilities and ensure that they enjoy full equality under the law.

According to government estimates, there are approximately 20-30 million disabled people in India. However, NGOs estimate the numbers are around 60-70 million.

In contrast to the population, NGOs like the National Centre for Promotion of Employment for Disabled People (NCPEDP) say that only a handful of them are educated and employed.