Capt: Special Recruitment Drive To Fill Vacancies For Persons With Disabilities
To mark the International Day of Persons with Disabilities on December 3, 2017, Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh has ordered a special recruitment drive to be conducted across the state to clear the backlog of vacancies for Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) in the public sector. Appointment letters to the newly recruited persons with disabilities would be handed over, in addition to distribution of wheelchairs and other aids, on the occasion. According to estimates, there are nearly 6.54 lac disabled persons in Punjab, constituting 2.35% of the state's total population of 2.77 crore as per the 2011 census. The state government has already issued 3.82 lac disability certificates till date, including 23,875 disability certificates issued during 2016-17. A special Braille printing press and an employment exchange for the disabled at Ludhiana are some of the other initiatives in place for these people. A total of 776 disabled unemployed are registered at the exchange while Braille Press is used for printing of Braille books as per Punjab School Education Board (PESB) for students upto 12th standard, free of cost. In addition, an unemployment allowance of Rs. 450/- upto 12th standard and Rs. 600/- above 12th standard is also being paid. As per the provision of the Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act, 1995, the Housing & Urban Development Department provides 3% reservation in allotment of plots/flats to disabled persons, in addition to it 5% rebate in price of these Plots/Flats. -PTC News
