125. Persons with disabilities benefiting from BIP are eligible to a free travel bus pass. 20% rebate on air tickets from Air Mauritius are provided to persons with disabilities and who are eligible for BIP. Passport are issued at a concessionary fee of Rs 400 for persons with disabilities eligible for BIP. 126. The Welfare of the Elderly Protection Unit admits persons with disabilities who have no one to care for them in Charitable Institutions and their wellbeing is monitored. 127. Government strongly encourages and supports children with disabilities to pursue their education. In this respect, various facilities are provided namely parents of disabled children to school (mainstream, specialized, integrated or day-care centres) are refunded the bus fare. The bus fare of one accompanying parent is refunded. Around 2000 children with disabilities are benefitting from the refund of bus fare as per the school attendance of the disabled child. 128. Since 2010, taxi fare is refunded for university students with severe disabilities who cannot travel by ordinary means of transport. This facility has been extended to those students with special needs confined to wheelchair and who are blind who are attending secondary schools as well as primary school as from June 2018. Payment is made on the basis of attendance submitted by the institutions. 129. The Francois Sockalingum Award is a scholarship scheme for students with disabilities with the objective of encouraging disabled students to follow secondary studies as well as promote the concept of self-reliance and independent living among them. Through this award, students with disabilities who pass the Primary School Achievement Certificate (PSAC) and pursue their secondary studies are eligible to a monthly stipend of Rs.750. Around 80 students with disabilities are currently benefitting from this Scheme. 130. As from the financial year 2016 /17, five scholarships are offered annually to student with special education needs to pursue post-secondary/ tertiary courses. A stipend of Rs 5000 is also provided. 131. Further to the promulgation of the Special Needs Education Authority Act, the Special Needs Education Authority which is in the process of being set up, will ensure children with disabilities have the best education opportunities suitable for their needs and their integration in the mainstream education. The Authority shall be responsible for (a) monitoring and facilitating the implementation of special education needs policies of the Government; (b) providing guidelines for the design and development of curriculum for special education needs; (c) the harmonization and promotion of programmes and policies for the education and holistic development of persons with special education needs, in line with the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and advise on the 41