A parliamentary panel has recommended revamping existing schemes for differently abled and formulation of new ones to cover more homeless and destitute Divyang. <br/><br/>The Standing Committee on Social Justice and Empowerment in a report said, a national policy for persons with disabilities, PWDs exists since 2006 but a large population is not aware of it and the benefit likely to accrue to them due to this policy.<br/><br/>It has recommended that the Department of Empowerment of Persons in the Ministry of Social Justice formulate a national policy for PWDs on the lines of the National Policy for Older Persons. <br/><br/>The Committee also feels that the National Policy for PWDs has not been given wide and enough publicity so that PWDs could avail its benefits. The report further said, the three schemes operated by the National Trust namely Vikas, Samarth and Gharunda have no visible impact and expenditure under these schemes is negligible.<br/><br/>The Committee has urged the department to revamp these schemes and make them effective and result-oriented. It also asked to formulate more schemes and programmes to cover more homeless and destitute PWDs. It said that no country or society can ever progress ignoring the needs and aspirations of more than 2.70 crore persons with disabilities. <br/><br/>The Committee appealed to the department to impress upon the state governments and Union territory's administrations to have separate department to address the concerns and problems of the differently-abled.