Definitions.

In this Act, unless the context requires otherwise,-

1. (a) "appointed day" means the date on which the provisions of this Act come into force under sub-section (3) of section 1 ;
2. (b) "Council" means the Maharashtra State Council of Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapy constituted under section 3 ; 1[(b-1) "Enlisted practitioner" means a traditional practitioner enlisted by the Council in the List published and maintained under sub-section (2) of section 30A ;]
3. (c) "Government" or "State Government" means the Government of Maharashtra ;
4. (d) "Inspector" means an Inspector appointed by the Council under section 23 ; 2[(d-1) "List" means the List of the Enlisted practitioners published and maintained by the Council under sub-section (2) of section 30A;]
5. (e) "member" means a member of the Council ;
6. (f) "Occupational therapist" means a person who possesses occupational therapy qualification obtained from a recognised institution specified in Scheduled I and whose name has been enrolled in the Register of Occupational Therapists.
7. (g) "occupational therapy" means a branch of health care system which involves application of purposeful goal-oriented activity through latest technology 3* * * * in the evaluation diagnosis or treatment of a persons whose function is impaired due to acute and chronic physical illness or injury, psychological dysfunction, congenital or developmental disability or the ageing process in order to achieve optimum functioning, to prevent disability and to maintain health ; specific occupational therapy services which include education and training in activities of daily living (ADL) ; the design, fabrication and application of or those (splints) ; guidance in the selection and use of adaptive equipment, therapeutic activities to enhance functional performances ; prevocational evaluation and training and consultation concerning the adaptation of physical environments which may be provided to individuals or groups and to both indoor and outdoor patients ;
8. (h) "physiotherapist" means a person who possesses physiotherapy qualification obtained from a recognised institution specified in Schedule II and whose name has been enrolled in the Register of Physiotherapists ;
   • (i) "physiotherapy" means a branch of modern medical science which includes examination, assessment, interpretation, physical diagnosis, planning and execution of treatment and advice to any person for the purpose of preventing, correcting, alleviating and limiting dysfunction, acute and chronic bodily malfunction including life saving measures via chest physiotherapy in the intensive care units, curing physical disorders or disability promoting physical fitness, facilitating healing and pain relief and treatment of physical and psychosomatic disorders through modulating physiological and physical response using physical agents, activities and devices including exercises, mobilisation, manipulations, therapeutic ultrasound, electrical and thermal agents and electrotherapy for diagnosis, treatment and prevention ;
9. (j) "prescribed" means prescribed by rules made under this Act;
10. (k) "President" means the President of the Council ;
11. (l) "profession" means the profession of occupational or physiotherapy, as the case may be ;
12. (m) "recognised institution" means an institution specified in Schedule I which grants qualifications in occupational therapy or, as the case may be, an institution specified in Schedule II which grants qualification in physiotherapy ;
13. (n) "recognised occupational therapy qualification" or "recognised physiotherapy qualification" means qualification in occupational therapy or physiotherapy, as the case may be, obtained from recognised institution of Occupational therapy or Physiotherapy registered in Schedule I or Schedule II, respectively ;
14. (o) "Register" means the Register of Occupational Therapists or Physiotherapists, as the case may be, prepared and maintained by the Council under this Act;
15. (p) "registered practitioner" means an occupational therapist or physiotherapist, as the case may be, whose name is entered and continues to remain on the register of the Council ;
16. (q) "Registrar" means the Registrar of the Council appointed under section 14 ;
17. (r) "regulations" means the regulations made by the Council under section 40 ;
18. (s) "rules" means rules made under this Act ;
19. (t) "Schedule" means Schedule I regarding Occupational Therapy or Schedule II regarding Physiotherapy appended to this Act ;
20. (u) "State" means the State of Maharashtra ;
    • (v) "Vice-President" means the Vice-President of the Council.