PANAJI
The much hyped recruitment currently underway through the Goa State Human Resources Development Corporation (GSHRDC) to hire people to fill nearly a thousand positions in government departments and statutory bodies could face some hiccups with a demand raised for a 4 per cent quota for Persons with Disability (PwDs).
Disability Rights Association of Goa (DRAG) has raised the demand for 4% reservation in the jobs being filled by GSHRDC in a written communique to the State's Disability Commissioner.
In the letter, a copy of which has been marked for the Chief Minister and Chief Secretary as also the Labour Commissioner, DRAG told the Commissioner that of the 944 posts which have been advertised none are reserved for PwDs although these are categories of jobs identified as suitable for them.
“You are aware that the Goa Human Resources Development Corporation is a Special Purpose Vehicle of the Government to provide jobs to Goans in government service and first preference in government jobs is provided to those employed by the corporation,” DRAG said in the letter.
It said by not reserving a 4% quota as mandated by Section 34 of the Rights of Persons with Disability Act 2016, the law has been violated and denied 38 persons with disability gainful employment in government service through preference in appointments.
“We wish to bring to your notice that empanelment can only be done of professionals and consultants and not of unskilled staff and hence GSHRDC has also violated the labour laws of the State by employing unskilled staff on empanelment basis,” DRAG's letter adds.
Meanwhile DRAG has also written to the Secretary Education demanding that Director of Education Shailesh Zindge be removed for his insensitivity towards children with special needs pointing out that financial assistance to children with special needs is not paid for the last five years and schools for them are yet to be sensitized regarding NEP more than half way into the academic year.
