Job quota for physically challenged persons in industry

The Orissa disabled people’s network (ODPN) on Wednesday hailed the state government’s decision to establish separate directorate for the physically challenged persons and to amend the industrial policy resolution (IPR) to reserve jobs for them in the industry.

The decision would benefit over 20 lakh disabled persons in the state, said the executive committee member of the ODNA K. Ananda Rao. Apart from a separate directorate and reservation of jobs in industry for physically challenged persons, the government has decided to provide them rice at Rs 2 per kg like it does for the families living below the poverty line and establish an Industrial Training Institute for them.

“We have been demanding these for last several years and we are happy that the government has now agreed to it”, Rao said. When the state is on the threshold of rapid industrialization with investment proposals of over Rs 6 lakh crore, the decision to amend the IPR to provide jobs to disabled persons is a welcome gesture, he added.

He, however, said the proposed directorate should ensure strict enforcement of the reservation policy in both private and public sectors. According to the Act, at least three percent jobs should be reserved for physically challenged persons in the government sector.

He also hailed the government decision to develop the skill level of disabled persons with establishment of an exclusive Industrial Technology Institute (ITI) and provide aid to the schools meant for disabled students through Sarva Shikhya Abhiyan (SSA).