When someone is clinically depressed or cannot keep their hands off alcohol, they often visit a clinical psychologist or a rehabilitation counsellor. However, before visiting them, how do we verify they are legitimate? In 1986, a recognized society called the Rehabilitation Council of India (RCI) was established. Parliament passed the RCI Act in September 1992, and on June 22, 1993, it was made a Statutory Body.
The Act was broadened by a parliamentary amendment in 2000. RCI's responsibility includes the regulation and oversight of services provided to people with disabilities, the standardization of curricula, and the upkeep of a Central Rehabilitation Register of all certified employees employed in rehabilitation and special instruction. The Act also calls for retaliatory measures against those who provide services to people with disabilities while being ineligible.
The Rehabilitation Council of India (RCI), the country's top rehabilitation authority, was founded in 1986. The Indian Parliament adopted RCI in September 1992. RCI governs the training programs for rehabilitation specialists.
At the time of its enactment, the Act recognized four different types of disabilities, including locomotor disability (inability to perform specific movements associated with moving, both h or worse), visual disability (either total absence of sight, visual acuity not exceeding 6/60 or 20/300 Snellen in the better eye with the correcting lenses or limitation of field of vision subtending an angle of degree or worse), and hearing disability (deafness with hearing impairment of 70 decibels).
It recognized eight different licensed professionals as rehabilitation specialists: audiologists and speech pathologists, clinical psychologists, hearing aid and ear mold technicians, rehabilitation engineers and technicians, special teachers for educating and training the disabled, vocational counselors, employment officers, and placement officers dealing with disabled, multipurpose rehabilitation therapists, technicians, and such other category of professions. Professionals like rehabilitation psychologists are now on the list. The Rehabilitation Council of India (RCI) also registers rehabilitation specialists in its central registry and regulates training programs.
The individuals recognized with RCI shall have the right to practice as rehabilitation professionals or staff in any region of India and to reclaim by the law any costs, fees related to medications or other equipment, or other amounts due in connection with such practice. No other than rehabilitation specialists or staff are listed on the Central Rehabilitation Register and have a recognized rehabilitation credential.
It includes −
To regulate training strategies and programs for the rehabilitation of disabled individuals.
To ensure uniformity in the training programs, professionals who work with people with disabilities take
Establishing basic requirements for education and instruction for different groups of workers who work with people with impairments
To universally govern these requirements across the nation's training institutions.
Recognizing organizations, institutions, and universities that offer master's, bachelor's, P.G. Diploma, diploma, and certificate programs in the rehabilitation sector for people with disabilities
To accept on a reciprocal basis any degree, diploma, or certificate granted by foreign universities or institutions.
To advance study in special education and rehabilitation
To keep the Central Rehabilitation Register up to date for the registration of professions and employees
To routinely gather data from establishments in India and overseas on instruction and learning in the area of disability rehabilitation
To promote ongoing learning in rehabilitative and special instruction through partnerships with organizations that deal with disabilities.
To acknowledge Vocational Rehabilitation Centers as centers for workforce development.
To enroll vocational rehabilitation instructors and other staff working in the centers for vocational rehabilitation.
To acknowledge the national academies and pinnacle entities on impairment as centers for workforce development.
To list those who work for the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment's top disability institutions and national institutes.
The 1992 Rehabilitation Council of India Act addresses creating a workforce to provide rehabilitation services. It was established to establish the Rehabilitation Council of India, which would oversee professional rehabilitation training, the upkeep of a central rehabilitation register, and other related matters. "To provide quality services to individuals with disabilities, matching the finest in the World," reads the body's mission statement. In order to broaden its scope, the RCI Act was revised in Parliament in 2000. As a result, RCI 2000 expanded its coverage to include disabilities brought on by the mental illness.
Handicapped in this Act means a person who is −
Visually handicapped;
Hearing handicapped;
Suffering from locomotor disability;
Suffering from mental retardation.
There are three chapters in the Act. Chapter I is the "Preliminary Chapter." It contains information on the title, definition, etc. Chapter II is the "Rehabilitation Council of India." It includes information on the constitution, the terms of the office bearers, executive committees, vacancies, and council dissolution, among other things.
The third Chapter is the "Functions of the Council." It includes information on the Council's functions, such as qualifications recognized by the University, examination facilities for inspectors, professional registration, professional behavior, and so on. It further emphasizes that Council staff will be public servants. This Chapter also discusses the framework for the ability to create rules and regulations, including rules and regulations brought before Parliament.
RCI is the supreme government authority established by an Act of Parliament to regulate training programs and courses aimed at the disabled, underprivileged, and special education need groups. It is India's sole legislative council obliged to maintain the Central Rehabilitation Register, which primarily maintains the data of all competent professionals who manage and offer training and educational programs for the targeted areas.
The Rehabilitation Council of India (Amendment) Act, 2000, was introduced and notified by the government of India in 2000. The amendment included definitions and debates contained in the previous Rehabilitation Council of India Legislation, 1992, within the scope of a larger act, namely the Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights, and Full Participation) Act, 1995.
The candidate's name must appear on the application form exactly as it appears on the registration certificate by a rehabilitation training facility that has received RCI approval.
Along with the registration form, the applicant must send photocopies of all diplomas from graduation onwards that a gazetted officer has fully verified.
Along with the mark sheet from his professional qualification, the applicant must enclose attested photocopies of his degree or diploma certificates.
Please note that registering based solely on a mark sheet will not be accepted.
The candidate must sign both the Declaration form and the Application form.
Three references, each with their name, address, and phone number should be listed separately and attached.
Attach a credential from the supervisor (if employed) attesting to our professional expertise in the regeneration field for the disabled. Also, include a second, one-color passport-sized photo duly attested by a Gazetted Officer on its reverse.
We may also include other details to support our claim that we have experience in this area.
Rules to be Adhered to Before Pursuing a Course with the Rehabilitation Council of India
No vocational course at a rehabilitation institute may begin without the Central Government's or the Council's previous consent.
The institution that wants to begin offering degree, diploma, or certificate programs must contact the council to seek permission through the relevant state government or union territory administration. The State Government and U.T. Administration will be asked to evaluate the needs of different specialists.
The establishment of a college or other institutions run by a non-governmental organization must receive the unequivocal support of the State Government or Union Territory Administration.
The Institute's administration must agree to the Council's personnel, facilities, and equipment requirements and assure that they will be implemented gradually over the allotted time.
The Institute's administration must express in writing the university's commitment to providing membership if the Council approves the start of the Degree or Master's Course.
The Institute's management must reassure the Council that it has sufficient training facilities to conduct the degree- and diploma-level courses.
Following the Council's recommendations, the administration shall offer the necessary administrative and instructional staff for the degree or diploma program.
The Institute's administration must present a strategy for creating a functional division and name qualified individuals to lead it.
According to Section 24(9) of the RCI Notification dated 27/03/1997, "On receiving of the implementation from an organization for authorization to begin a new retrofitting degree program, the Council shall call for the suggestions of the State Government, if not done by the organization," RCI may send notice to all State Governments. Suppose the State Government's recommendations or views are obtained after ninety days. In that case, the Committee will have the authority to sequence the application independently with the assistance of its advisory boards and then make whatever decision it deems necessary. The Council may then take the necessary actions as specified in section 24(9) of the above notification.
While it may seem like a huge burden to abide by many rules and regulations when enrolling into or graduating from a particular institute, it is key to remember why the codes of conduct exist in the first place. The rules and regulations may be elaborate, even for the Rehabilitation Council of India, but that is true, for it keeps in check the individuals who will grow to be responsible for a role larger than life for certain other people. So, the extensive rules and codes are of utmost importance to embed such a magnanimous responsibility and ensure that the smooth functioning of duties is being carried out.