Parliamentary panel seeks compliance data on disability quota in government jobs
New Delhi: In a major push to ensure inclusive employment, a parliamentary panel has sought detailed data on the implementation of the mandatory 4% reservation for differently-abled persons in government jobs across central ministries, departments and autonomous bodies.
Almost a decade after the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act, 2016, came into force and benchmark disabilities were identified, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Social Justice and Empowerment is examining the implementation of the reservation policy. According to sources, the committee wants to examine whether the quota for persons with benchmark disabilities is being implemented and if vacancies are unfilled.
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The panel's inquiry addresses persistent concerns over statutory non-compliance and backlog vacancies across public sector establishments. Under Section 34 of the RPwD Act, 2016, every government establishment is required to reserve at least 4% of total vacancies for persons with benchmark disabilities, defined as those with at least 40% of a specified disability.
The act specifies 1% of the reservation is earmarked for persons with blindness and low vision, 1% for those who are deaf or hard of hearing, 1% for persons with locomotor disabilities (including cerebral palsy, leprosy cured, dwarfism, acid attack victims and muscular dystrophy), and 1% for persons with autism, intellectual disability, specific learning disability, mental illness and multiple disabilities. To evaluate overall compliance, the committee has sought detailed data comparing the actual proportion of differently-abled employees in each ministry against prescribed 4% benchmark.
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Sources familiar with the development indicated the panel has issued a standardised questionnaire to ministries, seeking structured information on four parameters: total employee strength (overall headcount in each ministry, department or autonomous body across Groups A, B, C and D); reserved post roster (exact number of posts earmarked for persons with benchmark disabilities in accordance with Department of Personnel and Training guidelines); actual representation (count of differently-abled persons currently in service within these designated posts); and backlog vacancies (number of reserved posts lying vacant, along with timelines and recruitment plans for filling them).
Almost a decade after the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act, 2016, came into force and benchmark disabilities were identified, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Social Justice and Empowerment is examining the implementation of the reservation policy. According to sources, the committee wants to examine whether the quota for persons with benchmark disabilities is being implemented and if vacancies are unfilled.
Also Read: Sikkim tunnel collapse: 10 dead, several trapped; rescue operations on
The panel's inquiry addresses persistent concerns over statutory non-compliance and backlog vacancies across public sector establishments. Under Section 34 of the RPwD Act, 2016, every government establishment is required to reserve at least 4% of total vacancies for persons with benchmark disabilities, defined as those with at least 40% of a specified disability.
The act specifies 1% of the reservation is earmarked for persons with blindness and low vision, 1% for those who are deaf or hard of hearing, 1% for persons with locomotor disabilities (including cerebral palsy, leprosy cured, dwarfism, acid attack victims and muscular dystrophy), and 1% for persons with autism, intellectual disability, specific learning disability, mental illness and multiple disabilities. To evaluate overall compliance, the committee has sought detailed data comparing the actual proportion of differently-abled employees in each ministry against prescribed 4% benchmark.
Also Read: Delhi Court directs compliance with injunction in entrepreneur Ankiti Bose defamation suit, seeks affidavit from defendant
Sources familiar with the development indicated the panel has issued a standardised questionnaire to ministries, seeking structured information on four parameters: total employee strength (overall headcount in each ministry, department or autonomous body across Groups A, B, C and D); reserved post roster (exact number of posts earmarked for persons with benchmark disabilities in accordance with Department of Personnel and Training guidelines); actual representation (count of differently-abled persons currently in service within these designated posts); and backlog vacancies (number of reserved posts lying vacant, along with timelines and recruitment plans for filling them).
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