New Delhi, Sep 13 (UNI) Implementation of Government Schemes for disabled, Scheduled Castes and Other Backward Classes will be put to scrutiny at a two-day conference of Welfare Secretaries of States and Union Territories to be inaugurated by Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment Meira Kumar here tomorrow.

Special focus will be on schemes aimed at creating a barrier free environment for disabled in public buildings and public transport.

The Conference will also focus on education for children with special needs under Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan and streamlining the procedure and issues relating to disability certificate.

The disabled persons often face difficulty in getting the certificate and are unable to get the concessions and benefits under the various schemes of the Government.

Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has recently unveiled a National Policy for Persons with disabilities and the welfare secretaries of all the States were requested to ensure the effective implementation of the policy.

Educational schemes for the Other Backward Classes like Pre and Post-Matric Scholarships will also be reviewed.

For the deveopment of Scheduled Castes, the focus will be on educational schemes for the community like Pre and Post Matric scholarships, hostels for Scheduled Castes boys and Girls, schemes for composite economic development of the Scheduled Castes and implementation of protection and Civil Right Act 1955 and Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities Act, 1989).

Apart from this, issues concerned with the Prevention of drug abuse and alcoholism in the society and welfare of the elderly persons will come up for discussion.

Suggestions will also be invited on the proposed new scheme for rehabilitation of manual scavengers.

UNI NAZ YA RS1831