Every dept. to publish equal opportunities policy for persons with disabilities
Srinagar: In a significant development, the administration of Jammu & Kashmir Union Territory has come up with the Rules guiding implementation of disability law in the UT.
The Social Welfare Department on Monday notified “The Jammu & Kashmir Rights of Persons with Disabilities Rules-2021” after considering objections and suggestions received from different quarters over the draft rules which were put in public domain in June last year.
The State Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities, as per the rules, shall be appointed by J&K Government on recommendations of a search-cum- selection committee headed by chief secretary and comprising administrative secretaries of Social Welfare department, Health & Family Welfare department, School Education department and divisional commissioner Kashmir/ Jammu. “The government shall appoint one of the candidates out of the panel recommended by search-cum-selection committee under sub-rule(2) as State Commissioner,” read the rules, a copy of which is in possession of Precious Kashmir.
The State Commissioner shall have special knowledge or practical experience in respect of the matters relating to rehabilitation of persons with disabilities.
The commissioner shall have 20 years’ experience in Group “A” level or equivalent in central/state or public sector undertakings or semi-government or autonomous bodies dealing with disability related or social sector.
According to the rules, the concerned District Magistrate shall be ex-officio chairperson of district-level committees on disability.
The district-level committees shall advise the district authorities on matters relating to rehabilitation and empowerment of persons with disabilities.
They have also been empowered to monitor implementation of the disability law and rules guiding its implementation.
The statutory rules also call for framing of schemes to provide assistance to persons with benchmark disabilities having high support needs.
According to the rules, a nodal officer shall be designated in each Chief Education Officer of the School Education department, every urban local body and both directorates of Social Welfare to deal with all matters relating to admission for children with disabilities and facilities provided them in schools in accordance with the law.
They shall be designated within three months of notification of the rules.
The rules also mandate that every department shall publish equal opportunities policy for persons with disabilities within six months from the notification of these rules.
The equal opportunity policy of a private establishment having 20 or more employees and the government establishments shall have details like list of posts identified for persons with disabilities and facilities and amenities provided to them within the establishment.
