SHILLONG: Special Rapporteur, Disabilities, National Human Rights Commission & Former Chief Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities, Prasanna Kumar Pincha said many states in the country had not complied with the provisions of four per cent reservation for Persons with Disabilities (PwDs).
Speaking to reporters, he said the huge backlog posed a challenge to the government and the states as well as the civil societies to see that the provision of the reservation which is there in the current Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, gets implemented.
On the other hand, Pincha pointed out that the department needed to chip in for better implementation of the Act as all departments have to play a role and reserve job vacancies for PwDs.
Commenting on inclusive education, he observed choice must be given to students with disabilities while encouraging inclusive education.
“You will have to carry on both. Of course, you must encourage inclusive education but you must give choice to students with disability.”
According to him, “The so called special schools will have to continue for various reasons. There are many details to it. Right now, both inclusive system and special education should continue.”
Pincha said awareness on entitlements and rights of persons with disabilities (PwDs) living in rural and hilly areas should be intensified.
According to him, the awareness is more pronounced in the urban areas or somewhat in the semi-urban areas. He said, “The people in the rural areas need to know what their entitlements and rights are under the law so that they can assert their rights.”
“But compared to the past, there has been some awakening and awareness particularly in the urban and semi urban areas,” he added.