Punjab Social Security, Women and Child Development Minister Aruna Chaudhary, on Tuesday, said that 4% reservation quota for Divyangjans (Person with Disabilities) in government jobs will be ensured and out of 50,000 vacancies, announced by the Punjab Government to be filled in various departments this year, 2000 posts of PwDs would be filled.Presiding over a meeting of the State Advisory Board (PwDs) here at Punjab Bhawan, Mrs. Chaudhary said that fulfilling its commitment, Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh led Punjab Government has already enhanced social security pensions for all sections including PwDs from Rs.750 to Rs1500, which will be available for them from July 1 onwards. The Cabinet Minister directed the officials to identify 35 acres of land for the stadium, to be constructed for para players, at the earliest so that the construction work of the stadium could be started soon.Reviewing the progress of welfare schemes for Divyangjans of various departments, Mrs. Chaudhary instructed to ensure implementation of provisions of disabled-friendly facilities for Divyang persons and children in the parks, bus stands and buses etc. and asked to submit the review report at the earliest so that facilities could be provided, where such amenities are not available.
She categorically asked the authorities to send cases of those children and the families, who have lost their breadwinners to the COVID for timely providing them financial assistance and benefits of various government schemes.The Minister asked the officials of Education, Sports, Transport and other departments to regularly review programs and schemes for PwDs of their departments and inform the department of social security, women and child development immediately in case of any lack. Besides this, she directed the departments to expedite the digitization process of various cards for the disabled such as Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan Card and Job Card.Mrs. Chaudhary informed that the social security department has so far received a total 3,54,478 applications from UDID, out of which 2,11,848 cards have been made and remaining will be processed soon.Before the onset of the meeting, which was attended by members of State Advisory Board, Principal Secretary Mrs. Raji P. Shrivastava, Director Mr. Vipul Ujwal, Additional Director Mrs. Lilly Chaudhary, Joint Director Mr. Charanjit Singh Mann, Deputy Director Mr. Gurjinder Singh Maur and others, a two minute silence was also observed to pay tributes to Late Davinder Singh, superintendent of the department, who died due to COVID.