Government to keep tab on back log of vacancies

FROM A CORRESPONDENT

SHILLONG, Feb 10: The Meghalaya government on Friday assured the Chief Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities, Dr Kamlesh Kumar Pandey that it will prepare a roster to keep tab of the back log of vacancies in the various government departments reserved for people with disabilities (PWDs).

On Friday, Dr Pandey held a series of meetings with government officials and NGOs working for the differently abled in the state to get first hand information about the issues confronting the stakeholders.

Dr Pandey informed that there are backlogs in the recruitment of differently abled persons in the state government departments.

“There is no particular data of how many posts are available with the departments for people with disabilities,” the Chief Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities said.

The state government also assured the Chief Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities that it will carry out special recruitment to over-come the backlog. It may be mentioned that section 33 of the Persons With Disabilities (equal opportunities, protection of rights and full participation) Act, 1995 provides three percent reservation in government departments.

Meanwhile, officials of the state government informed that as per data available with them there are 59 PWDs employed with various state government departments even as it said that the figure may not be fil since they are in the process of identifying more differently abled persons currently employed by the government.

Dr Pandey said that he was informed by the state government that currently there are 800 posts available for PWDs.

The Chief Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities also lamented that although the state has appointed a full-fledged state Commissioner but expressed his reservation over the temporary staffs working  under this office. He also expressed his reservation that the State Executive Committee has not been reconstituted since its inception in 2008. Dr Pandey also said that last meeting of the State Executive Committee was held in April 2010. The Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities, C Kharkongor informed that the State Executive Committee will be reconstituted after it meets on February 16.