PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/Dehradun
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Ravindra Jugran met Social Welfare minister Khajan Das on Friday and asked for the permanent appointment of a full-time commissioner and deputy commissioner for persons with disabilities (Divyangjan Aayukt) in Uttarakhand. Jugran informed the minister that even after 25 years since the State’s formation, Uttarakhand has yet to make appointments on these positions. He urged the Social Welfare minister to immediately issue a notification in accordance with the Central Government’s guidelines and the Disability Rights Act of 2016.
Jugran pointed out that for the past 25 years, IAS officers have been given additional responsibilities for these roles, resulting in a lack of permanent appointments. This has hindered disabled individuals in Uttarakhand from accessing the full benefits of various ambitious schemes and information provided by both the Central and State governments. He also noted that the absence of specialist doctors has caused significant difficulties for individuals in obtaining their disability certificates.
“Due to the lack of skill development centres, training arrangements have not been made, which has deprived disabled individuals of the opportunity to gain training and consequently, has created barriers to their employment,” Jugran said. He emphasised that disabled individuals in Uttarakhand are being denied many benefits.
The minister assured Jugran that the issue will be addressed.
