News

Volume 4 Issue 5 - March 01, 2006

Union Budget fails to deliver an incentives policy to promote employment for disabled people

D.N.I.S. News Network- Disability sector’s recommendations for the Union Budget 2006-2007 were conveniently brushed aside as Finance Minister P. Chidambaram made no mention of any plan aimed at addressing the needs of disabled people in country’s macro planning and resource allocation during his budget speech.

In the 10^th year of Disability Act, the Disabled Rights Group (D.R.G.) was expecting announcement of an incentives policy for corporate sector to promote better employment opportunities for disabled people. Let alone this cardinal demand, not even a mention of disability was made.

According to an estimate, less than one per cent of disabled people are employed. National Centre for Promotion of Employment of Disabled People (N.C.P.E.D.P.) had conducted a study in 1999, which revealed that the average rate of employment in the private sector was only 0.28 per cent and in the multinational companies, it was a mere 0.05 per cent! In a nation-wide survey that was conducted recently, it was found out that 60 per cent of the total Public Limited Companies have not employed a single disabled person. National Sample Survey Organisation figures reveal that the rate of unemployment of disabled people in India is 74 per cent where as that of non-disabled population is only 45 per cent.

In a letter to the Finance Minister, N.C.P.E.D.P. had sought a meeting for a group of senior leaders representing different disabilities. But that did not happen despite several reminders to the Minister’s office.

D.R.G. has expressed its displeasure over the silence on issue of incentives and other demands.