3% quota for differently abled not implemented: Govt

The government on Tuesday said it has been unable to provide 3% reservation to differently abled people in its services.

The government on Tuesday said it has been unable to provide 3% reservation to differently abled people in its services.

Disabled children celebrated Holi in Mumbai. The government says it scheme for physically challenged people is failing. (Vijayanand Gupta/ HT file photo)

“The provision is for three per cent reservation, but it is far less,” said social justice and empowerment minister Thaawar Chand Gehlot in Lok Sabha.

But at the same time, between May 2015 and April this year, a special drive was launched to fill up the vacancies which had resulted in filling up of 10,000 posts, he said.

Following the special drive, the figures have risen to over one per cent as against the stipulated three per cent.

In his written response, he said as per the Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act, 1995, reservation of 1% each will be made for people with blindness or low vision, hearing impairment and locomotor disability or cerebral palsy in posts identified for each disability.

The national action plan for skill development of persons with disabilities was announced in March last to impart skill training and improve their chances of employment in public and private sector, he said.