Shillong, May 4: Four organisations representing persons with disabilities (PWDs) across the state have come together to form the Meghalaya Disability People Organization (MDPO) to amplify voices of individuals with disabilities.
MDPO president Jitendra Dkhar today said this unified state-level body met on May 2 wherein members discussed the challenges faced by PWDs.
One of the critical issues raised in the meeting was the state government’s failure to comply with the Constitution of India and the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPWD) Act 2016.
According to Dkhar, there is an alarming trend of PWD categories disappearing from recruitment processes within the Meghalaya Public Service Commission (MPSC) and the District Selection Committee. He emphasized that this issue is not merely a technical oversight, but a direct erasure of the legal status of PWDs.
He demanded the government to clarify how PWD vacancies are identified and advertised, insisting on the maintenance of a distinct PWD category throughout the recruitment process.
The MDPO president expressed doubts regarding the transparency of the current roster system and demanded a clear breakdown of the reservation of seats among different communities within the PWD quota.
Seeking clarity in the distribution of reserved seats among the Khasi, Jaintia, and Garo communities, Dkhar said that there seems to be a lack of transparency in how the 4 per cent reservation is being divided among different communities that raises questions about fairness and equity in the allocation of opportunities for the PWD communities.
Dkhar said the introduction of a 2 per cent reservation for sportspersons has added another layer of complexity. The MDPO president questioned where this 2 per cent allocation is derived from and if it affects the existing 4 per cent PWD quota. “We will not accept any hidden deductions or the dilution of our legally mandated rights,” he added.
The MDPO also questioned the accountability of those in power as it demanded the government to make public on the work of the committee to oversee vacancies that even the PWDs are not part of. It insisted that PWDs should be represented in any body that makes decisions about their lives.
Stating that Section 34 of the RPWD Act 2016 is being treated as a suggestion rather than a mandate the organisation said the government application systems are confusing and lack basic accessibility features. “Our candidates—especially the totally blind—are being judged on their needs and “excuses” regarding their disability, rather than being assessed on their capabilities and professional skills. This is a direct violation of Article 16 of the Constitution,” he said.
While the state government builds dedicated homes and infrastructure for the elderly, the orphanage community, and other groups, the PwD community has been left “behind the scene, the MDPO lamented
“Inclusive education is a hollow promise in Meghalaya. We do not have one single dedicated government institution for PwDs. general schools and colleges lack the systems, trained teachers, and materials to actually teach our children,” Dkhar said.
Pointing out that under Article 41 of the Constitution, the state must provide public assistance the MDPO said currently, youth are in deep pain and crying due to daily hardships because the digital systems for these schemes are broken, inaccessible, and poorly coordinated.
“We can no longer bear these injustices. Our youth are frustrated and hurting. If the Government of Meghalaya does not immediately address the Roster system, clarify the sports quota, and fix the recruitment categories, the MDPO will be forced to lead state-wide public protests and hunger strikes. Once the situation escalates, the responsibility for the consequences will rest solely with the state administration,” it warned.
