SHILLONG, Oct 8 - Union Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment Krishan Pal Gurjar today said that a new Bill would be introduced during the coming Winter Session of the Parliament to raise reservation for the disabled to five per cent from the existing three per cent.
Taking note of the poor implementation of reservation policy for the disabled in Meghalaya, the Union Minister said that he would seek a report from the State Government on the issue. According to an RTI finding, just 15 persons with disability were recruited by Meghalaya Government since the Persons With Disabilities (PWD) Act was implemented in 1995.
Under the PWD Act, at least three per cent Government jobs must be reserved for persons with disabilities, which successive Meghalaya Governments have failed to implement over the years.
The Union Minister further urged the State Government to create a separate department for the disabled. �The State Government should create a separate department for the disabled so that implementation of the various policies could be streamlined,� he said. He was speaking during distribution of kits, books and other items worth Rs 60 lakh to disabled students at the Bethany Society here.
Gurjar informed that there are 2.68 crore persons with disability in the country according to 2011 census, but just 49 per cent of this population have received their disability certificates.
