State Commissionerate for Persons with Disabilities should be empowered and strengthened, said Chief Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities Prasanna Kumar Pincha.

The Commissioner, who is on a visit to the state to review the implementation of the Persons With Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act, 1995, told a press conference here on Thursday that he was surprised to find that the state commission, a quasi-judicial body, lacked adequate staff with only two staff members and without even a peon.

The Chief Commissioner was also sore at the response on the part of the officials to his visit as the Additional chief secretary, Social Justice Department,and none of the officials of the General Administration Department did not turn up for the meeting convened by him.

“I did not get any input from the GAD. Also, I had asked for some information from SJD before I arrived the state so that I could use it while having discussion with officials.

“But I did not get the information on time and was told that the officials were preparing it.
“I was also told that there was a Government Order way back as in 1979 which prevented visually impaired people from becoming heads of institutions.

“I directed the chief secretary to check whether such an order exists and if so to withdraw it.
“There is need for framing proper recruitment rules and setting up criteria for disabled persons,” Pincha said.

State Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities N Ahmed Pillai was also present for the press meet.

SOURCE: New Indian Express