News

Volume 4 Issue 6 - March 15, 2006

Posts for disabled people to be identified soon: Manipur Chief Minister

D.N.I.S. News Network- In a promising development for the nascent disability movement in Manipur, which has been witnessing public protest to demand implementation of the Disability Act, Chief Minister O. Ibobi Singh has issued directives to the State administration to identify posts that could be reserved for disabled candidates.

This was stated by the Chief Minister recently in the State Assembly in response to the issue of the non-implementation of the provisions of Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act, 1995 raised by legislators L. Ibomcha, O. Joy and S. Gopal.

The concerned members asked the Chief Minister to provide information on the implementation of the Act, with specific reference to the identification of posts for disabled people in government departments (under section 32) in grade III and IV posts; and 3 per cent reservation as laid down in section 33.

Referring to a recent notice issued by Union Public Service Commission (U.P.S.C.) on 2 January 2006 clearly laying down the criteria for reservation of seats for disabled candidates, he assured that Manipur Public Service Commission Act would be amended in line with the U.P.S.C. and added that various departments have been instructed to do the needful within the next two months.

Around 200 disabled people from All Manipur Mental Handicapped Welfare Organisation, Mongsangei, Ch. Ibocha Institute of Mentally Retarded, Malom, Ideal blind School, Takyelpat and Motbung had taken out a rally on 1 February 2006 demanding the implementation of the act.