CHIATR
President
Dr Anoop Vincent 9387914387
mailtodranoop@gmail.com
Vice President
Dr Sagar T 9605002836
drtsagar@ gmail.com
Email ID: ipspsykerala
@gmail.com
Hon Gen DrAnees Ali 9387006999
dr.ancesali@gmail.com
Hon Treasurer Dr TC Vishnu 8129145425 vishnutc@gmail.com
Hon Editor ,KJP
DrRajmohanVelayudhan 9895318590
Rajmohan.velayudhan a@gmail.com
Immediate Past President Dr Mohan Sundaram
9349166777
Immediate Past Secretary DrJoice Geo
9447217534 drjoicegeo@gmail.com
Representative to IPS South ZoneBranch
Dr Radhakrishnan MP 9847070888
drkrmp@rdifimail.com
Executive CommitteeMembers Dr.Alfred VSamuel
Dr. Mohan RoyG
Dr. Jaimon PM
Dr. Sebind Kumar
Dr Subramanian S V DrAbdul Razak Kottelassal
Dr. Vinayak M Dr. Harsha Haridas Dr. Namitha Nazir
Dr. Dayal Narayan Dr. Indu V Nair
Secretary
BRANCH OFINDIAN PSYCHIATRICSOCIETY(KERALA) Reg. Number. TVM/TC/934/2014.www.ipsk.org
Journal: http://www.kiponline.com
Public information portal: http:l/manasikarogyam.com
INDIAN PSYCHIATRIC
The certification of benchmark disability as per the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
(RPwD) Act, 2016, which became operational on 15 June 2017, is a function of
psychiatrists
been detailed
attending the respective boards constituted for the same. The process has
SOCIETY
KERALA STATE POSITION
in the act and had been diluted to avoid a baseline diagnosis at 8 years,
as
theActwasnew,manychildren hadcrossedthat agemark.Further, thepractices havenot been standardized into scrcening,referral, clinical assessment, IQAssessment, “Specific
Learning Disability” (SLD) assessment, and Diagnosis as detailed in the Act. The act being in forcefor 8years, “SLD”assessment ofa child at 8years, is feasible for all students referred for assessment who are in the 10 standard,as all of them had completed 8years in 2018or 2019. So,from now on, the Act must be followed in full when diagnosing, unlesstheGovernment orCourtsissue ordersallowingtheexemption.Thediagnosis of “SLD”entails adisability of40%andanyone whois diagnosedandgivena disability at 18 years of ageor above will have a permanent disability status and can get the Unique Disability ID(UDID)card and acerue all the benefits of the ACT, including employment benefits. Therefore, the diagnosis results in a legal document with far-reaching
consequences and must be issued
with great care.
The Indian Psychiatric Society (IPS) is the largest body of mental health professionals (MHPs)in the country, and IPS-Kerala State Branch (IPS-KSB) is the largest body of
CHIAT
President
Dr Anoop Vincent 9387914I87
mailtodranoopa gmail.com
Vice President
DrSagar T 9605002R36
drtsagaría gmail.com
HonGen Secretary Dr Ances Ah
9387006999 dr.aneesaliagmail com
Hon Treasurer Dr TCVish
8129145425
vishnutoa gmail.com
Hon Editor, KJP
Dr RajmohanVelayudhan 9895318590
MHPs in the state. The members of IPS-KSB are actively diagnosing.”SLD”.Inthelastfewmonths,therehavebeenmultiplecampsorganizedfor
the same. The psychiatrists attending these camps, in many cases, have found that the
procedures of the RPwD act have not been followed when a child
or the assessments of 1Q and “SLD”are not truly representative
intellectual or learning acumen. Further, many cases had behavioural disorders or motivational issues, which excludes a diagnosis of “SLD”. This will necessitate reassessment and re-iagnosis, which may entail the samepsychiatrist re-assessing the case if time permits,rescheduling it for a later date, or issuing a referral to the appropriate
BRANCH OF INDLAN PSYCHIATRICSOCIETY(KERALA)
Reg.Nomber. TVMTC9w2014.www.psk.org
Journal: http://www.kiponline.com Public information portal: http://manasikarogyam.com Email iD :ipspsykerala@gmail.com
Rajmohan velayudhan a gmail com allicd professional. However, when the psychiatrist tries to initiate this, they are being
ImmediatePast President DrMohanSundaram 9349166777
ImmediatePast Secretary DrJoice Geo
9447217534
drjoicegeoa gmail.com
Representative to IPS South ZoneBranch
Dr Radhakrishnan MP 9847070888
subjectto qucstioning.pressure, andevenrecourseunderthe Right to Information(RTI)
Act to hamper a legal process.Many times, it is done by psychologists or organizations of psychologists,who fail to recognize that the psychiatrist has the right to reassess and re diagnose any case brought to them. Pressure also comes from parents, school stafl, local body representatives, etc., all of which impedes the workof the psychiatrist and creates
drrkrmpaodifinail con unduework-relatedstress. TheIPS-KSBstandswiththeright ofallpsychiatrists serving
Executive Committee Members Dr. Alfred V Samuel
Mohan Roy G Dr.Jaimon PM
Dr.Sebind Kumar Dr Subramanian S Vv
DrAbdu Razak Kotielassal DrVinayak M
Dr.Harsha Haridas Dr. Namitha Nazir
Dr.Dayal Narayan Dr. Indu VNair
on such boards to carry out their oftheRPwD Act.
In this context, the IPS-KSB proposes Guidelines
involved in the diagnosis should adhere to while making a diagnosis of”SLD”.
duties without interference
and in tune with the dictates
that the Psychiatrist
and any professional
involved in the process of
is brought for diagnosis,
of the index child’s
SYCHATRIC
President
Dr Anoop Vincent 9387914387
mailtodranoop@gmail.com
Vice President
DrSagar T 9605002836
drtsagaragmail.com
Hon Gen Secretary Dr Anees Ali
9387006999 dr.ancesali@gmail.com
Hon Treasurer DrTCVishnu 8129145425 vishnutc@gmail.com
HonEditor, KJP
Dr RajmohanVelayudhan 9895318590
Rajmohan.velayudhan a@gmail.com
ImmediatePast President Dr Mohan Sundaram 9349166777
ImmediatePast Secretary DrJoice Geo
9447217534 drjoicegeo@gmail.com
Representative to IPS South ZoneBranch
Dr Radhakrishnan MP 9847070888
drrkrnp@rediffmail.com
Executive Committee Members Dr. Alfred V Samuel
Dr. Mohan Roy G Dr. Jaimon PM Dr. Scbind Kumar Dr Subramanian S V
DrAbdul RazakKottelassal
Dr. Vinayak M Dr. Harsha Haridas
Dr. Namitha Nazir
Dr. Dayal Narayan Dr. Indu V Nair
Public information portal: http://manasikarogyam.com Email iD :ipspsykerala@gmail.com
1. A child
bytheschool,followingthescreeningcriteria mentionedinTHEGAZETTEOF
INDIA: EXTRAORDINARY [PART I-SEC. 3(i): CG-DL-E-15032024 253066; No. 1272; NEW DELHI, THURSDAY, MARCH 14, 2024
(htps:/divyangjan. depwd gov.in’upload’uploadfles/assessment_ guidelines,pd) Page 490 -498
2. Thefollowingclauses willleadtothechild notbeingconsideredforassessment a. The RPwD Act, 2016, which became operational on 15 June 2017, has been
BRANCH OF INDIAN PSYCHIATRIC SOCIETY(KERALA) Reg. Number. TVMTC/934/2014.www.ipsk.org
Journal: http://www.kiponline.com
3.
Diagnosis of Spccific Learning disability
is contingent on an IQ above 85, where to be non-representative of the child’s
presenting for a diagnosis specificlearning disability should be referred
in force for 8 years, so henceforth,for SLD assessment, no child who has notbeenassessedat8yearsshall beentertained forassessment
b. Lack of a proper child’s referral letter for specific learning disability
assessment by the principal of the school, with the letter for
recommendations of screening endorsed by the school screening committee.
c. The lack of attached Form A of SLD screening, the lack of the teacher’s
the psychiatrist
intellectual
findings on parent interview, duly signed by the teacher)
specifically
mentioning motivation (Both
suspects the IQ written
level, they can reassess themselves with VSMS or send it for re
PSYCHIAT
President
Dr Anoop Vincent 9387914387
mailtodranoop@ gmail.com
Vice President
Dr Sagar T 9605002836
drtsagar@ gmail.com
Hon Gen Secretary Dr Ances Ali 9387006999 dr.ancesali@gmail.com
Hon Treasurer DrTC Vishnu
8129145425 vishnutc@gmail.com
HonEditor, KJP
Dr Rajmohan Velayudhan 9895318590
Rajmohan.velayudhan@gmail.com
ImmediatePast President Dr Mohan Sundaram 9349166777
ImmediatePast Secretary DrJoice Geo
9447217534 drjoicegeo@gmail.com
Representative to IPS South ZoneBranch
DrRadhakrishnan MP 9847070888
drrkrnp@redifmail.com
Executive Committee Members Dr. Alfred V Samucl
Dr. Mohan RoyG
Dr. Jaimon P M Dr.Sebind Kumar
Dr Subramanian S V DrAbdulRazak Kotelassal
Dr.Vinayak M Dr. Harsha Haridas
Dr. Namitha Nazir
Dr. Dayal Narayan Dr. Indu V Nair
assessmenttoaGovernment psychologist (whomayormaynotbeRClregistered, as the SLD assessment does not insist this, unlike mental illness assessment).
4. The lack of apaediatrician’s reportcertifying that the child does not have a vision
or hcaring impairment that affects learning can also lead to the diagnosis being
deferred
BRANCH OF INDIAN PSYCHIATRIC SOCIETY(KERALA) Reg.Number. TVM/TC934/2014.www.ipsk.org
Journal: http://www.kiponline.com
Public information portal: http://manasikarogyam.com Email ID :ipspsykerala®gmail.com
5. Thepsychiatrist
finding ofSLD if there are emotional or behaviouralproblems that mimicSLD
6. Thepsychiatrist cannot makeadiagnosis/ordeny an earlier donestructuredbattery
7.
8.
finding of SLD if there is an absence of adequate opportunity for learning with proper motivation
It will be the responsibility ofthe child’s teacher/principal/screening committee, and the psychologist to provide the relevant documents to the child’s parent/guardian to be produced at the time of diagnosis by the psychiatrist. Thepsychiatrist can gothrough the alreadyconducted IQscreeningquestionnaire, IQ assessment, and NIMHANS SLD battery findings of the child and consider certifying SLD, if these are proper and, according to their clinical judgement, are representativeof the child’s intellectual and learning status.
cannot makea diagnosis/or deny an earlier
done structured
battery
9. The psychiatrist
case may be) the child will have to undergo repeat certification
year of Class X and the academic year of Class XI, if required.
at the time of making the diagnosis should mention that (as the
during the academic
TRIC SrCHIA
President
S
BRANCH OF INDIAN PSYCHIATRICSOCIETY(KERALA) Reg.Number. TVMTC/934/2014.www.ipsk.org
Journal: http://www.kiponline.com Public information portal: http://manasikarogyam.com Email iD :ipspsykerala@gmail.com
Dr Anoop Vincent 9387914387
mailtodranoop@ gmail.com
Vice President
DrSagar T 9605002836
drtsagara gmail.com
Hon Gen Secretary DrAncesAli
9387006999 dr.ancesali@ gmail.com
Hon Treasurer
Dr TC Vishnu 8129145425 vishnutc@gmail.com
HonEditor, KJP
Dr RajmohanVelayudhan 9895318590
Rajmohan.velayudhan@gmail.com
ImmediatePast President DrMohan Sundaram
9349166777
Immediate Past Secretary DrJoice Geo 9447217534 drjoicegeo@gmail.com
Representative to IPS SouthZone Branch
Dr Radhakrishnan MP 9847070888
drrkrnp@redifinail.com
Executive Committee Members Dr. Alfred V Samucl
Dr. Mohan Roy G
Dr. Jaimon P M
Dr. Sebind Kumar DrSubramanian S V DrAbdul Razak Kottelassal Dr. Vinayak M
Dr.Harsha Haridas Dr. Namitha Nazir
Dr.Dayal Narayan Dr. Indu V Nair
10. Due carc has to be taken as SLD isa benchmark disability, which, on diagnosis, entails a disability above 40% unlike borderline intelligence, which entails a disability of only 259%.
Further, though the act states that, in vicw of shortage of the specialist doctors resulting in huge pendency in disability assessment, the chairperson (Who compulsorily has to be a Government Doctor e.g. Chief Medical Officer or Civil Surgcon or as specified) ofthe disability assessment board may, required,include private medical practitioner(s) (dulyqualified in the respective medical domain) as a board member, this applies only to medical practitioners and not psychologists whoarenotmedicalpractitioners. So,werequestthegovernment to appointmore clinical psycho logists and reconsider its position on hiring private psychologists until there is a provision in the act.
TheTHE GAZETTE OF INDIA:EXTRAORDINARY
E-15032024-253066; No. 1272; NEW DELHI, THURSDAY, MARCH 14, 2024
11.
(https://divyangjan.depwd.gov.in/upload/uploadfiles/assessmentguidelines.pdf)
Pages 522-523, mention clearly that VSMS, NIMHANS Index for SLD, MISIC, BKT are
copyrighted. The charges for using this, or who should bear the charges, have not been specified. The mass screening of children using the NIMHANS Index for SLD, which costs34,000 rupees,exposes everyone to litigation based oncopyright.Theonly two free
toolsaretheNIEPIDIQTest(which,however,cannotbeusedforcasesabovethe4th standard)andtheGradeLevelAssessment DeviceforChildrenwithLearningProblems
[PART IISEC. 3(ii)):
CG-DL
in
SO CHIA TRIC
President
Dr Anoop Vincent 9387914387
mailtodranoop@ gmail.com
Vice President
Dr SagarT 9605002836
drtsagar@gmail.com
Hon Gen Secretary DrAncesAli
9387006999 dr.ancesali@ gmail.com
Hon Treasurer
Dr TCVishnu 8129145425
vishnutc@ gmail.com
HonEditor, KJP
Dr Rajmohan Velayudhan 989531 8590
Rajmohanvelayudhan@gmail.com
ImmediatePast President DrMohan Sundaram 9349166777
ImmediatePast Secretary DrJoice Geo
9447217534 drjoicegeo@gmail.com
Representative to IPS South ZoneBranch
Dr Radhakrishnan MP 984707088s drkmp@rediffnail.com
Executive Committee Members Dr.Alfred VSamuel
Dr. Mohan Roy G
Dr. Jaimon P M
Dr. Sebind Kumar
Dr Subramanian S v DrAbdul Razak Kottelassal
Dr. Vinayak M Dr. Harsha Haridas Dr. Namitha Nazir Dr. Dayal Narayan
Dr. InduV Nair
Public information portal: http:l/manasikarogyam.com Email iD :ipspsykerala @gmail.com
BRANCH OF INDIAN PSYCHIATRIC SOCIETY(KERALA) Reg.Number. TVM/TC934/2014.www.ipsk.org
Journal: http://www.kiponline.com
in school (GLAD), which is also validated only up to the 4 standard. But the act says it
can be used across ages, which is a clear violation of assessment principles. The NIMHANSIndexforSLDisalsovalidatedonlyupto 14yearSofage,yettheActstates
it for useacrossages,which is anotherclear violation oftherules. Further,theNIMHANS
extensionstoKannada and Hindi,so there is no scientific method by which this can be used to mass-diagnose children in schools
unless they are in English and have Hindi as a second language. Therefore, the entire
Index for SLD is validated only in English with
process is unscientific
justice for people with
Theterm “SLD,”a word which has been deliberately
dilution of established science.The abbreviation SLD is currentlyused as a perversion of
the original abbreviation for Specific Learning Disorder and not Disability. The term
SpecificLearning Disorder is accepted by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental
Disorders (DSM) and was previously accepted by the WHO in its ICD-10, though the WHO now calls it Devclopmental Lecarning Disorder. And all assessment tools diagnose the disorder; remember, the RPwD Act also uses the word “diagnosis” under section 22.3 of Specific Learning disability (Page 492). The International Classification Functioning, Disability and Health (1CF) is a framework for describing and organising informationonfunctioninganddisability. Itprovidesastandardlanguageandaconceptual basis for the definition and measurement of health and disability. It defines disability an
umbrella term for impairments, activity limitations and participation restrictions. It
and is in clear contravention of established disabilities.
principles
of natural
used in inverted
commas,is itself a
of
PSYCY WIATRIc
President
Dr Anoop Vincent 9387914387
mailtodranoop@ gmail.com
Vice President DrSagar T 9605002836
drtsagara gmail.com
Hon Gen Secretary Dr Ances Ali 9387006999
dr.ancesali@gmail.com
Hon Treasurer Dr TC Vishnu 8129145425 vishnutc@gmail.com
HonEditor, KJP
Dr Rajmohan Velayudhan 9895318590
Rajmohan. velayudhan @gmail com
Immediate Past President DrMohanSundaram
9349166777
ImmediatePast Secretary Dr Joice Geo
9447217534 drjoicegeo@gmail.com
Representative to IPS South ZLone Branch
Dr Radhakrishnan MP 9847070888
drrkrmp@rediffmail.com
Executive CommitteeMembers Dr. Alfred VSamuel
Dr. Mohan Roy G Dr.Jaimon PM
Dr. Sebind Kumar DrSubramanian S V DrAbdul Razak Kottelassal Dr. Vinayak M
Dr.Harsha Haridas
Dr. Namitha Nazir
Dr. Dayal Narayan Dr. Indu V Nair
denotes the ncgativeaspectsoftheinteraction
BRANCH OF INDIAN PSYCHIATRIC SOCIETY(KERALA) Reg.Number. TVM/TC/934/2014.www.ipsk.org
Journal: http://www.kiponline.com
Public information portal: http://manasikarogyam.com Email ID :ipspsykerala@gmail.com
that individual’s
specific learning
contextual factors (environmental and personal factors)”.
between a person’shealth
The concept of disability equates the health condition (medical/brain disorder) of
Specific Lcarning Disorder with the term Specific Learning Disability, which has no
definition. The process should have been two-phased: first, the diagnosis of Specific Learning Disorder should have been made by the psychiatrist, followed by the assessment of disability due to the condition using a validated method (which does not exist).
So,the IPS-KSBrequestsallpsychiatrists to beaware ofthe inherent contradictions in the process and try to uphold the best principles of medical science and ethics while conducting such camps, as this is the best way to ensure the legality of the process and conscquentlysocial justice.
16.12.2025
DrAnees Ali
Secretary
Indian Psychiatric Society
Kerala
KERALA STATE BRANCH Reg. Number TVM/T 934/2014
State
Branch (|PS-KSB)
condition(s)and
deemagclinic
deemag and chest clinic 