20th ANNUAL REPORT 2006-07 CONTENTS SL No. Title Page No. 1. Introduction 1 2. Objectives of the Council I 1 3. Functions of the Council 1 1 4. Rehabilitation Professionals under the Preview of Council 2 5. General Council 3 6. Executive Committee 3 7. Sub-Committees of the Council 5 8. Recommendations made by the Sub-committees 5-10 9. Standardization of Training Courses 10 10. Inspection and Recognition of Institutions 11 11. Assessment &Accreditation of institutions 11 12. Central Rehabilitation Register 11 13. Continuing Rehabilitation Education Seminar/Workshops 12 14. Seminars/Workshops Sponsored During the Year 13 15. Conference Organized by the Council 14 16. Distance Education 16 17. MoU with ISRO and NlOS 17 18. National Conference RCI-MPBOU Collaboration 19 19. Zonal Co-ordination Committees 20 20. NPPCD programme 22 21. Information Technology 22-23 21. Annexure "A to Q" 24-68 22. Annexure “P”: Audit Report and Annual Accounts 69-96 1 20th ANNUAL REPORT 2006-07 INTRUDUCTION In pursuance of the recommendations of the National Council for the Handicapped Welfare, the Ministry of Welfare (now the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment) Government of India carried out consultations with experts and concerned Ministries on the question of setting up an apex body to enforce uniform standards for human resource development in the field of rehabilitation of persons with disabilities in the country It was, therefore, decided to set up the Rehabilitation Council, which would be responsible for developing training policies and programmes and for standardizing of training courses in the country. The Council was set up under the Societies Registration Act XXI of 1860 vide Resolution No 22-1 7183-HW Ill dated 31"' January, 1986 and given Statutory Status by an Act of Parliament viz; Rehabilitation Council of India Act, 1992 (No 34) dated 1st September, 1992 effective from 31."' July, 1993. The RCI Act was amended by Parliament in 2000 to make it more broad base enhancing the responsibilities of standardizing and regulating the training including a component on research in the area of rehabilitation and special education. OBJECTIVES OF THE COUNCIL 1. To regulate the training programmes in the field of rehabilitation of disabled persons. 2. To prescribe minimum standards of education and training for various categories of Professionals dealing with persons with disabilities. 3. To regulate these standards in all training institutions to bring about uniformity throughout the country. 4. To recognize institutions/universities running degree/diploma certificate courses in the field of rehabilitation of the disabled and to withdraw recognition, wherever facilities are not satisfactory 5. To recognize foreign degrees/diploma certificates on reciprocal basis and to get Indian Degrees / Diplomas /Certificates recognized abroad and to withdraw such recognition awarded by universities/institutions on a reciprocal basis. 6. To maintain Central Rehabilitation Register of persons possessing the recognized rehabilitation qualification. 7. To encourage Continuing Rehabilitation Education in collaboration with organizations working in the field of disability. 8 To promote research in rehabilitation and special education. FUNCTIONS OF THE COUNCIL 1. The qualifications granted by any University or other institution in India that are included in the Schedule shall be recognized qualifications for Rehabilitation Professionals 2 Any University or other Institution which grants qualification for rehabilitation professionals not included in Schedule may apply to the Central Government to have any such qualification recognized and the Central Government after consulting the Council may by notification amend the Schedule so as to include such qualification therein and any such notification may also direct that any entry shall be made in the last column of the Schedule against such qualification only when granted after a specified date. 3. The Council may enter into negotiations with a recognized authority in any other country for setting up of a scheme of reciprocity for the recognition of qualifications. In pursuance of any such scheme, the Central Government may by notification, amend the Schedule so as to include therein any qualification which the Council has decided should be recognized, and by such notification may also direct that an entry shall be made in the last column of the Schedule declaring that it shall be a recognized qualification only when granted after a specified date. 2 20th ANNUAL REPORT 2006-07 4. Registration of Rehabilitation Professionals in the Central Rehabilitation Register of persons possessing the recognized rehabilitation qualifications as per the Schedule attached to the Act. 5. To prescribe the minimum standards of education required for granting recognized rehabilitation qualification by Universities/institutions in India. 6. To prescribe the standards of professionals, conduct and etiquette &code of ethics for Rehabilitation Professionals. 7. To inspect and recognize institutions/universities for training of professional courses in the field of rehabilitation and to recognize the degrees/diplomas/certificates awarded by these institutions and to withdraw recognition. 8. The Council may appoint such number of visitors as it may deem requisite to inspect any University or Institution wherein education for Rehabilitation Professionals is given or attend any examination for the purpose of granting recognized rehabilitation qualifications. REHABILITATION PROFESSINALS UNDER THE PERVIEW OF THE COUNCIL The following categories of Professionals notified by the Ministry: (i) Audiologists and speech m he rapists (ii) Clinical Psychologists (iii) Hearing and Ear Mould Technicians (iv) Rehabilitation Engineers and Technicians (v) Special Teachers for Educating and Training the Handicapped (vi) Vocational Counselors, Employment Officers and Placement Officers dealing with Handicapped (vii) Multi-purpose Rehabilitation Therapists &Technicians (viii) Speech Pathologists (ix) Rehabilitation Psychologists (x) Rehabilitation Social Workers (xi) Rehabilitation Practitioners in mental retardation (xii) Orientation and Mobility Specialists (xiii) Community Based Rehabilitation Professionals (xiv) Rehabilitation Counselors /Administrators (xv) Prosthetics and Orthotics (xvi) Rehabilitation Workshop Managers (xvii) Any other category of Professionals included from time to time 3 20th ANNUAL REPORT 2006-07 GENARAL COUNCIL In accordance with Sub-section (I) and (3) of Section 3 of RCI Act 1992 (34 of 1992), the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, Govt. of India, vide Notification No. S.O. 550 (E) dated 13"'April2005 appointed Major General (Retd) Ian Cardozo. Chairperson of the Council and Member of the General Council vide Notification No S O N o 975 (E) dated 8''' July 2005. List of the Members is placed at Annexure A. The General Council has control on the affairs of the Council and authority to regulate the training policies and programmes, standardization of training institutions and recognition of degrees/ diploma certificates awarded by these institutions for professionals dealing with disabled persons and to prescribe minimum standards of education and their evaluation. The Twenty Seventh Meeting of the General Council was held on November 20,2006 under the Chairmanship of Major General (Retd) Ian Cardozo at India Habitat Centre, New Delhi wherein following decisions were taken: It was resolved that Physiotherapists and Occupational Therapists working in the field of Rehabilitation be regulated under the existing RCI Act till such time the Act is amended or a separate Council is formed. The members discussed the RCI-NCTE agreement and the question of equivalence of general education and special education teacher training programme. It was emphasized that all teachers in the general education system be sensitized in dealing with the special needs of children with disability. The issue related to differences in the pay structure for special education teachers with general education teachers was discussed. It was suggested that the issue may be taken up with the Administrative Ministry for equivalence of pay. The Eleventh Plan proposal, Action Plan and Budget proposal for the year 2006-07 were discussed and approved for submission to Ministry for their consideration. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE To fulfill the purpose of the RCI Act, the General Council as per the powers conferred under Sub- section (1) of Section 7 constituted Executive Committee from an amongst its members The Executive Committee IS responsible for the management and administration of the affairs of the Council. List of Executive Committee Members is placed at Annexure B. During the year, three meetings (46 to 48) of the Executive Committee were held under the Chairmanship of Major General (Retd) Ian Cardozo wherein following decisions were taken. Follow up action of the 45"' meeting Action Plan, Budget and Progress Report for the year 2006-07 was discussed and approved The decision of two Continuing Rehabilitation Education (CRE) programme by National institution totaling 10 days during a span of 7 years was approved so as to update the knowledge of Rehabilitation professionals. The proposal for establishment of ISRO facility for up linking the Down Reception Satellite Centre through the studio established at RCI and to up link the recognized training centers through EDUSAT was approved 4 20th ANNUAL REPORT 2006-07 Executive Committee Meeting at RCI Eleventh Five