“The Persons with Disabilities (Divyang) are an inseparable part of our society and the Punjab Government considers it an article of faith to provide every amenity to this section of the society so as to enable them to live a dignified life.”This was disclosed here today at Punjab Bhawan by the Social Security, Women & Child Development Minister, Punjab, Mrs. Aruna Chaudhary while chairing a meeting of the State Advisory Board notified as per Section 66 of the Rights of Persons With Disabilities (RPWD) Act, 2016.The minister further said that emphasis is being laid on the sprucing up of the infrastructure at the 4 Community Homes for Mentally Retarded Persons situated at Ludhiana, Amritsar, Kapurthala and Rajpura. The steps being contemplated include Increase in Staff especially Special Educators, Medical Facilities, Easing the procedure for admission to these homes, Segregation of children based on their IQ level.Coming to the implementation of the RPWD Act, 2016 throughout the state, Mrs. Chaudhary said that the support of all the departments is very necessary to ensure the successful implementation of the act. Elaborating more, the minister said that preference to the ‘Divyang’ people is a part of the transfer policy and instructions have been given to all the D.E.O.s and also that the schools are being made barrier free with construction of ramps with handrails besides disabled friendly toilets and drinking water facilities. Also, No student with disability would be denied admission in the schools. In the institutes of higher education 5 percent seats would be reserved for the divyang students. The Guru Nanak Dev University Amritsar, Punjabi University Patiala, PAU Ludhiana, Khalsa College Amritsar and Rajiv Gandhi National University have implemented this measure.The minister also divulged that the act contains provisions of 5 percent reservation in poverty alleviation schemes and the same percentage in land on concessional rates to the Divyang persons. Not only this but to ensure transparency, the Disability Certificates now being issued through online UDID programme. For the clinical assessment of newly registered disabilities the training for specialists of the Punjab cadre has been planned at 3 state medical colleges and recruitment of Clinical Psychologists apart from Audiologists for hearing impaired people is underway.
Aruna Chaudhary also disclosed that the Transport Department, headed by her, has been directed to make sure accessibility of the school buses to Divyang children and she would also ensure that the divyang friendly infrastructure is established at the 14 bus stands announced by the state government.The minister also made a strong case for sports amenities to be made accessible to the divyang players and emphasized sports events for such players. The minister was also apprised that the new sports policy contains provision of cash awards to divyang players.Listing other priorities, Mrs. Chaudhary said that the government would ensure access to the information and communication technology to divyang persons besides ensuring the non-discriminatory attitude towards them. In an important announcement, the minister said that 2 employees per department would be trained as the Sign Language Interpreters to assist the divyang persons in the government offices and such a proposal has been sent to the Union Government. The minister also batted the need to have disabled friendly features in all the parks and was apprised that work on disabled friendly parks is underway in Mohali and Amritsar. The minister further said that all the departments have notified the Grievance Redressal Officers.The minister also released the Punjabi translation of the Rights of Persons With Disabilities Act, 2016 on the occasion and it is significant to note that it is for the 1st time that the act has been translated into a mother tongue.On the occasion, the Principal Secretary, Social Security, Women and Child Development Raji Srivastava while elaborating about the Community Homes for Mentally Retarded Persons, said that these homes provide homely atmosphere to the children with facilities of on call doctor, counselor, psychiatrists and therapists besides a panel of attendants to look after their hygiene.The Director, Social Security, Women and Child Development Department, Punjab, Mrs. Kavita Singh and the Additional Secretary Health and Family Welfare Mr. B. Srinivasan besides the members of the State Advisory Board were also present on the occasion.