Chhattisgarh speaker Raman Singh directs chief secretary to complete identification of job posts for Divyangjan (persons with disabilities) in 6 months

RAIPUR: In a move aimed at expediting the implementation of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, Dr Raman Singh, has instructed the Chief Secretary to complete the identification of job posts for Divyangjan (persons with disabilities) within six months. The directive came amidst an intense debate in the Assembly, sparked by BJP MLA Prabodh Minj's query regarding the prolonged delay in implementing the 2016 Act.
“The Chief Secretary must give thought to the issue of why the identification of Divyangjan eligible for the posts reserved for them in the govt departments has been delayed. It has been nine years since the Act came into existence, yet the process of identifying Divyangjan eligible for promotion or appointment in government departments is still ongoing,” the Speaker stated while expressing his concern.
Earlier, BJP MLA Minj held the state government responsible for the delay, highlighting the lack of progress in both post identification and recruitment during the Question Hour of the Assembly on Thursday.
Women and Child Welfare Minister Lakshmi Rajwade, in her response, attributed the delay to the ongoing process of obtaining opinions from various government departments, stating that while 24 departments had submitted their feedback, 26 were still pending. This explanation drew sharp criticism from Minj, who labeled the process as stagnant.
The Speaker, Dr. Raman Singh, intervened, emphasizing the need for departmental sensitivity towards Divyangjan. He stressed the importance of setting a concrete deadline to ensure timely implementation. "The department must be sensitive and set a time limit to complete the process," the Speaker stated.
Leader of the Opposition, Dr. Charan Das Mahant, accused the government of "deceiving" Divyangjan, labeling their behavior as "inhumane." Mahant also stated in the Assembly that a draft was released on May 31, 2024, regarding the posting of one lakh Divyangjan and sought clarification from the Minister on whether such an order had been issued by the state government. However, the Speaker intervened before the Minister could respond.
In response to the mounting pressure and the urgent need for action, the Speaker instructed the Chief Secretary to prioritize the matter and ensure that the identification of posts is completed within the stipulated six-month timeframe.
The members of the Assembly hailed the Speaker’s directive as a significant step towards addressing the long-standing grievances of the Divyangjan community.