Health, Social Justice & Empowerment Minister Dr. (Col.) Dhani Ram Shandil reiterated the State Government's commitment for the welfare of the persons with disability while chairing a meeting with all major departments regarding various demands of Blind Persons Association and National Federation of Blind, Himachal Pradesh.
The Minister asked the departments to identify all the vacant backlog posts for the persons with benchmark Disability by 29 February, 2024. He directed the departments to fill all vacant posts and the identified backlog posts as per the Centre Government notification.
The minister assured the representatives of the Blind Persons Association that the government would pay special attention to the issue of backlog posts for ensuring speedy solution. There is a four percent reservation provision for the persons with disability, remarked the minister, directing the departments to ensure that a roster of reservation for the persons with disability is implemented strictly at the time of filling up of posts, regularization and promotion.
Dr. (Colonel) Dhani Ram Shandil said the issue related to subsidized travel in the non-stop buses or outside of Himachal in state transport and various other related issues would also be taken up with the Transport Department for the benefit of these people. The State Government was committed to provide various other benefits of the state-run policies and programmes and centrally sponsored schemes to these persons, concluded the minister.
Secretary, Health and SJ&E, M. Sudha Devi, Director, Empowerment of Schedule Castes, Other Backward Classes, Minorities, and Specially Abled, Pradeep Kumar Thakur, senior officers of various departments, including Public Works, Jal Shakti, Agriculture, Horticulture, Forest and Fisheries, and representatives of the Blind Persons Association were also present on the occasion.