Kalam asks States to appoint Special Commissioners to ensure implemention of 3 per cent reservation

D.N.I.S. News Network – Focusing on the single most important demand of the disability sector in the tenth year of the Disability Act, President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam has asked State Governments to appoint Special Commissioners to ensure the implementation of three per cent reservation in Government jobs.

Elucidating on the idea, he said that the Special Commissioners could be placed under the overall supervision of a Coordinator in the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.

The President made the statement while addressing a gathering at the presentation ceremony of the National Awards for the Welfare of Persons with Disabilities on World Disability Day, 3 December 2005. Kalam said the officer could be designated Project Director and made a full time Commissioner, and would be responsible for filling up the reserved jobs.

He also called upon corporate groups and social institutions to participate in sponsoring cochlear implants, and promised that the Government on its part would provide 150 per cent weighted deduction of such contribution for the purposes of computing income tax.

Sharing with the audience and press persons the ongoing efforts to develop technologies to enhance capabilities of disabled people, Kalam informed that the government was working towards providing a cost effective speech interface through the indigenously developed, hand held Personal Computer for visually impaired people.

Congratulating the award winners, he said it was very important to recognise outstanding employees, employers, placement officers, individuals, institutions and creative disabled persons.