Rehabilitation Council of India (RCI)
The Rehabilitation Council of India (RCI) was set up as a registered society in 1986. On September 1992
the RCI Act was enacted (to pass a law) by Parliament and it became a Statutory Body on 22 June 1993.
The Act was amended by Parliament in 2000 to make it more broad-based.
The Rehabilitation Council of India Act, 1992 is a significant piece of legislation enacted in India to
regulate and standardize training programs for professionals working in the field of rehabilitation and
special education. The act establishes the Rehabilitation Council of India (RCI), which oversees the
quality of services provided to individuals with disabilities and ensures the proper training and
certification of rehabilitation professionals.
The Mandate given to RCI is to regulate and monitor services given to persons with disabilities, to
standardise syllabi and to maintain a Central Rehabilitation Register of all qualified professionals and
personnel working in the field of Rehabilitation and Special Education. The Act also prescribes punitive
action against unqualified persons delivering services to persons with disabilities.
Purpose
The RCI Act regulates the training of rehabilitation professionals, promotes research in rehabilitation
and special education, and maintains a Central Rehabilitation Register
ROLE OF RCI
1. Regulating the training policies and programmes in the field of rehabilitation of persons with
disabilities.
2. Bring about standardization of training courses for professionals dealing with persons with
disabilities.
3. Prescribing minimum standards of education and training of various categories of
professional/personnel dealing with people with disabilities.
4. Regulating these standards in all training institutions uniformly throughout the country.
5. Promoting research in rehabilitation and special education.
6. Maintaining central rehabilitation register for registration of professionals/personnel.
7. Recognizing vocational rehabilitation centres as man power development centres.
8. To recognize institutions/ organizations/ universities running master's degree/ bachelor's degree/
P.G. Diploma/Diploma/ Certificate courses in the field of rehabilitation of persons with disabilities.
9. To recognize degree/diploma/certificate awarded by foreign universities/ institutions on reciprocal
basis.
10. To encourage continuing education in the field of rehabilitation and special education by way of
collaboration with organizations working in the field of disability.
11.Collecting information on a regular basis on education and training in the field of rehabilitation of
people with disabilities from institutions in India and abroad.
12. Recognizing the National Institutes and apex institutions on disability as manpower development
centres.
13. Registers personnel working in national institutes and apex institutions on disability under the
ministry of social justice and empowerment.
14.Registers vocational instructors and other personnel working in the vocational Rehabilitation Centres.
Key Provisions of the RCI Act:
1. Establishment of the Council:
o The act created the Rehabilitation Council of India, which functions as a statutory
body.
o The council regulates the training policies and programs for professionals
working in the rehabilitation sector.
2. Objectives:
o To regulate the training of rehabilitation professionals and personnel.
o To promote research in rehabilitation and special education.
o To standardize curricula and maintain uniformity in the training of professionals.
3. Registration of Professionals:
o Rehabilitation professionals must be registered with the RCI to legally practice in
India.
o The council maintains a Central Rehabilitation Register, which includes a list
of qualified professionals and personnel.
4. Recognition of Institutions:
o The RCI recognizes and monitors institutions offering training programs in
rehabilitation and special education.
o Institutions must meet specific criteria set by the council to gain recognition.
5. Amendment in 2000:
o The act was amended in 2000 to widen its scope, including various categories of
disabilities under its ambit.
o It also incorporated the recognition and monitoring of special education programs.
6. Offenses and Penalties:
o Practicing as a rehabilitation professional without RCI registration is an offense
under this act.
o Penalties include imprisonment and fines for non-compliance.
Importance of the Act:
Ensures the availability of qualified and trained professionals to assist individuals with
disabilities.
Protects the rights and dignity of people with disabilities by ensuring high standards of
rehabilitation services.
Promotes inclusivity and accessibility in education, employment, and societal integration for
persons with disabilities.
The act aligns with broader national and international efforts, such as the Rights of Persons with
Disabilities Act, 2016, and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
(UNCRPD).
CONCLUSION
The Rehabilitation Council of India (RCI) is the apex government body, set up under an Act of
Parliament,
toregulate training programmes and courses targeted atdisabled, disadvantaged, and special educationr
equirement communities.
