Aizawl: Four NGOs in Mizoram on Tuesday submitted a memorandum to Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla urging him to reconsider the appointment of B Sairengpuii, a retired Mizoram Ministerial Service (MMS) officer as Commissioner for People with Disabilities (PWD).
The NGOs – Catholic church sponsored Zoram Entu Pawl (ZEP) or the ‘Light of Mizoram’, Ferrando Integrated Women Development Centre – (FIWDC Peace Home), Centre for Peace and Development (CPD) and Human Rights and Law Network (HRLN) expressed opinion that Sairengpuii, younger sister of Lal Riliani, wife of the state chief minister was not qualified to be the Commissioner for PWD.
The former Secretary for state Social Welfare Department was also considered to be ill-equipped with knowledge and experience to deal with PwDs as the Commissioner also has to perform judicial functions, the NGOs said.
Sairengpuii was appointed as the Commissioner for PWD on October 31, the day she left the government service on pension as Secretary for Social Welfare though the state cabinet had already approved the establishment of the PwD Commissioner’s post on December 20, 2010, the memorandum said.
The NGOs also said that Differently Abled Society of Mizoram (DASM) leaders could not meet her even after many attempts when Sairengpuii was the ex-officio Assistant Commissioner for PWDs. (PTI)