Scholarship
Persons With Disabilities Scheme In Colleges: Higher Education For Persons With Special Needs(Hepsn)
Eligibility
The college applying for a grant for any one of the components of the scheme should have enrolled disabled persons, including persons with visual impairment, hearing impairment, locomotor disability, etc., in various courses of the institute. The definitions of disability are in accordance with the Persons with Disabilities Act 1995. 1. Institutions applying for the scheme should have been approved by the UGC under Sections 2(f) and 12 B. 1. The college should have constituted an expert committee involving faculty members, experts in the field and differently-abled persons themselves. The committee should meet at least once a year to review the activities related to the concerned scheme(s).
Region
All India
Award
In Kind
By Expertie Editorial Team · Expertie editorial desk
Overview
About Hepsn
The Higher Education for Persons with Special Needs (HEPSN) scheme is run by the University Grants Commission (UGC), which funds universities and colleges to make their campuses and classrooms usable by students with disabilities. It takes its cue from the Persons with Disabilities Act 1995, which holds that people with disabilities should be able to study at every level of education.
HEPSN works through the institution rather than paying a student directly, so its benefit is in kind. UGC gives colleges grants under three broad heads: building awareness of what differently-abled students can do, physical access work such as ramps, rails and accessible toilets, and assistive equipment and reader support that make learning possible. Many campuses use the grant to set up an enabling unit that counsels students, helps them secure admission and points them toward suitable courses.
The scheme has run since the UGC's Ninth Five-Year Plan and continued through the Tenth and Eleventh Plans. It covers students with visual impairment, hearing impairment, locomotor disability and other conditions defined under the 1995 Act. Since the support reaches you through the college you attend, you benefit when your institution enrols disabled learners and applies to UGC for it.
Sources: myScheme – Higher Education for Persons with Special Needs (HEPSN) · University Grants Commission – Schemes for Differently-abled Students · Disability Law Initiative – UGC Scheme for Persons with Disabilities (HEPSN)
Who runs it
Provider
Ministry Of Social Justice and Empowerment
Central Government
Department of Social Justice & Empowerment
At a glance
Key details
| Level | Central |
| Scheme type | Central Sector Scheme |
| Category | Education & Learning, Social welfare & Empowerment |
| Beneficiaries | Individual |
| Benefit type | In Kind |
| Application mode | Offline |
Calendar
Important dates
Across all open application cycles.
| Cycle | Stage | Date |
|---|
Who can apply
Eligibility criteria
| The college applying for a grant for any one of the components of the scheme should have enrolled disabled persons, including persons with visual impairment, hearing impairment, locomotor disability, etc., in various courses of the institute. The definitions of disability are in accordance with the Persons with Disabilities Act 1995. 1. Institutions applying for the scheme should have been approved by the UGC under Sections 2(f) and 12 B. 1. The college should have constituted an expert committee involving faculty members, experts in the field and differently-abled persons themselves. The committee should meet at least once a year to review the activities related to the concerned scheme(s). |
What you get
Award & benefits
- Provision of Facilities and Financial assistance
- The HEPSN scheme has three components. They are enumerated as follows: Component 1: Establishment of Enabling Units for differently-abled Persons
- To develop awareness in the higher education system and also to provide necessary guidance and counseling to differently-abled persons, it is proposed to establish resource units in colleges in the country, which will be called Enabling Units. The functions of this Enabling Unit will be to:
- Facilitate admission of differently-abled persons in various courses;
- Provide guidance and counseling to differently-abled individuals;
- Create awareness about the needs of differently-abled persons, and other general issues concerning their learning; and
- Assist differently-abled graduates to gain successful employment in the public as well as private sectors.
- The special unit will be coordinated by a faculty member to be nominated by the head of the institution. He/she will work as an honorary coordinator for which a token honorarium of Rs. 4000/- per month will be paid. The unit will also have a budgetary provision of ₹ 50,000/per year towards general administration, stationery, and contingencies, and to avail the services of experts and personnel for organizing awareness programs, counseling sessions, etc., for efficient and independent functioning in order to achieve its objectives.
- Component 2: Providing Access to Differently-abled Persons
- The UGC will make a one-time grant of up to ₹ 5,00,000 per college during the Plan period so that the colleges can address the accessibility issues pertaining to disability and make special arrangements in the environment for their mobility and independent functioning.
- The colleges address accessibility-related issues as per the stipulations of the Persons with Disabilities Act 1995.
- The colleges ensure that all existing structures as well as future construction projects in their campuses are made disabled-friendly.
- The institutes create special facilities such as ramps, rails, and special toilets, and make other necessary changes to suit the special needs of differently-abled persons.
- Component 3: Providing Special Equipment to Augment Educational Services for Differently-abled Persons
- Differently-abled persons require special aids and appliances for their daily functioning. These aids are available through various schemes of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. In addition to the procurement of assistive devices through these schemes, higher education institutions may also need special learning and assessment devices to help differently-abled students enrolled in higher education. In addition, visually challenged students need Readers. Availability of devices such as computers with screen reading software, low-vision aids, scanners, mobility devices, etc., in the institutes, would enrich the educational experiences of differently-abled persons. Therefore, colleges are encouraged to procure such devices and provide the facility of Readers for visually challenged students. The UGC will provide an ad hoc one-time grant of up to ₹1,50,000 per college during the Twelfth Plan period
What to prepare
Documents required
Aadhaar Card.
2-Passport Sized Photograph (Signed Across).
Residential Certificate.
Disability Certificate.
Details of the Bank Account (Bank Name, Branch Name, Address, IFSC, etc).
Proof of the Latest Educational Qualification (Passing Certificate or Marksheet)
Bonafide Certificate from the School/College
Any other document required by the College or the District Social Welfare Office.
Step by step
How to apply
- 1Apply offline
https://www.ugc.gov.in/pdfnews/1112642_Person-with-Disability-guidelines.pdf
Source
Official links
Questions
Hepsn – FAQ
HEPSN stands for Higher Education for Persons with Special Needs. It is a scheme designed to provide inclusive higher education opportunities for individuals with disabilities.
The eligibility criteria for Higher Education For Persons With Special Needs (HEPSN) may vary depending on the country or region. Generally, individuals with recognized disabilities, such as physical disabilities, visual impairments, hearing impairments, learning disabilities, or intellectual disabilities, are eligible to apply for the scheme.
The application process for HEPSN depends on the specific guidelines and procedures established by the implementing authority. Typically, you would need to fill out an application form and submit it along with the required documents. It is advisable to check the official government websites, education boards, or relevant authorities in your specific country or region for detailed application instructions.
HEPSN offers various support services, which may include accessible infrastructure, assistive technologies, academic accommodations, counseling and guidance, mentoring, and career support. These services aim to facilitate the learning and participation of students with disabilities in higher education.
In some cases, HEPSN schemes may provide scholarships or financial assistance to students with disabilities to help alleviate the financial burden of higher education. The availability and specific details of scholarships can vary, and it is advisable to check the guidelines and provisions of the HEPSN scheme in your country or region.
Some HEPSN schemes may allocate reserved seats or quotas for students with disabilities in educational institutions. This ensures a certain percentage of seats are specifically reserved for individuals with disabilities to promote their access to higher education.
Enabling units or support centers established under the HEPSN scheme often assist students with disabilities in obtaining the necessary disability certificates or documentation required for their application. They can guide you through the process and help with the required paperwork.
HEPSN promotes inclusive curriculum and teaching practices to cater to the diverse learning needs of students with disabilities. However, the specific guidelines and recommendations may vary depending on the country or region. It is advisable to consult the implementing authority or refer to official resources for information on inclusive curriculum and teaching practices.
Disclaimer
Scheme details are compiled from myScheme, the Government of India’s official scheme-discovery platform, and are reproduced without alteration. Amounts, deadlines and eligibility change between cycles — always confirm on the official links above before applying. Expertie does not process applications or charge fees.
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