The Federation of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) has written to the Social Welfare Minister over pending demands of the community, mainly pertaining to employment.
The organisation asked that PWDs who are muster roll workers in government departments be regularised under the Group D category. It also requested the government to conduct special recruitment drives for disabled candidates whenever a fellow PWD leaves service.
Furthermore, as per the Rights of People with Disabilities Act 2016, the federation has asked that one member in the Meghalaya Public Service Commission and one each in all the District Service Commissions be appointed to look after PWD recruitment. The government was also requested to identify posts for the disabled before issuing advertisements for them.
Other matters included a suggestion that the government instruct government educational institutions and private ones that receive state support to reserve 5 percent of seats for PWDs.
The federation also requested the government to provide sign language interpreters at all government functions, meetings, etc and appoint three special educators in each block “to ensure that children with special needs are not deprived”.