Punjab Government, while taking serious note of non-adherence of quota of 2 percent for disabled persons in the process of fresh recruitment, has strictly directed the authorities concerned to ensure that employment of disabled persons is ensured against two percent quota reserved for them under the Disabled Persons (Employment & Rehabilitation) Ordinance 1981.
Official sources told Business Recorder here on Friday that the government has viewed with concern that the provisions of Disabled Persons (Employment & Rehabilitation) Ordinance, 1981, are not being adhered to by various departments, while making fresh recruitment.
It has been observed with concern that the departments are not giving due importance to this important provision of law despite repeated instructions on the issue, with the result that disabled persons remained deprived of their legal rights.
According to the sources, Chief Minister Punjab, Chaudhry Pervaiz Ellahi, has also taken a serious view of this situation and directed the authorities to ensure that employment of disabled persons is ensured against two-percent quota reserved under the Ordinance. Pursuant to directions of chief minister, the government has directed all administrative departments to carry out a comprehensive exercise regarding the existing number and percentage of disabled employees working in various cadres in the departments, subordinate offices, district government and autonomous bodies, etc.
After carrying out the above exercise, the administrative departments shall calculate two-percent quota for the disabled, only against the posts reserved for initial recruitment, as recruitment against this quota can only be made against the posts reserved for initial recruitment.
According to the instructions, recruitment of able-bodied persons will not be made against posts reserved for the disabled persons.
The selection committee authority shall ensure that two-percent quota reserved for the disabled persons is adhered to while inviting applications/recommending candidates for various posts including posts to be filled up through competitive examination.
Disabled persons appearing and qualifying in open competition for non reserved vacancies will be selected purely on merit and not against the posts reserved for disabled quota.
It may be mentioned that under Rule 03 (iv) of the Punjab Civil Servants (Relaxation of Upper age limit) Rules, 1976, the maximum upper age limit prescribed in the service recruitment rules for appointment to a post shall be raised by 10 years, for disabled persons, to be appointed against quota for the disable.
The government has also instructed Directorate of Labour Welfare and Directorate of Social Welfare at the provincial level and ECO (Community Development) along with DO (Labour Welfare), DO (Social Welfare), to remain vigilant and co-ordinate with all government and private establishments, to ensure that the two-percent quota of jobs reserved for disabled under the law, is strictly being adhered to by all concerned.