Act against those not implementing disability quota: Parliamentary panel

NEW DELHI: A parliamentary committee has recommended appropriate action against "erring authorities" who are not implementing the provisions of the Persons with Disabilities Act, which mandates three per cent reservation for the differently abled.

In its second report submitted in Parliament last week, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has noted that the Act makes it mandatory for the government to reserve "not less than three per cent of vacancies for persons with disabilities (PwDs)."

Observing that only one per cent of the vacancies have been filled by such candidates, the report said a huge backlog of vacancies exists with respect to posts meant for them.

The committee asked the Department of Disability Affairs to take up the matter with all central ministries, PSUs, state governments and universities recognised by the University Grants Commission to collect a data on the backlog of vacancies of posts reserved for PwDs.

"The committee desires that appropriate action be initiated against erring authorities for non-implementation of provisions of the Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act, 1995," the report said.

It further urged the Department of Disability Affairs to take up with DoPT, a nodal ministry for implementing the reservation policy, to clear the backlog by launching special drives.

The committee also recommended "strict monitoring" of the Deendayal Disabled Rehabilitation Scheme and ensure that grants are being extended only for "deserving NGOs".

Expressing displeasure over the trend of utilisation of funds under the scheme during the past four years, the committee said that only about 50 per cent of the allocation has been spent in 2013-14.

"Despite an allocation of Rs 124.85 crore in the year 2013-14 in the scheme, expenditure has been about 50 per cent only," the report said.