SHILLONG: Union Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment, Ramdas Bandu Athawale on Saturday said that he would write to the Chief Minister of Meghalaya to setup up government schools for differently abled children in the state.
Speaking to media persons after holding a review meeting with the State Government officials on different schemes for persons with disability, the Union minister said that as of now there were 12 private schools for disabled children in the state and Union Government would give necessary grant to setup government-owned schools for disabled children in the state.
Giving the details of persons with disabilities in Meghalaya, Athawale informed that there were 44370 disabled people in Meghalaya and the number of the persons with disabilities in the country was well over 2 crores.
During the meeting, the Minister was informed that there were 75 people with disability who were working in the State Government and the Minister has asked the State Government to strictly follow the guidelines of 4 per cent reservation for persons with disabilities in the State Government jobs.
In the meeting, the Minister was also informed that Meghalaya Government had been giving Rs 500 per month to 11695 people under the Chief Minister’s Social Assistance Scheme for the infirm, widows (Single Mothers) and persons with disabilities
The Minister even urged Meghalaya Government to pass a law to support old-age people while citing example of Assam Government wherein Assam Government has formulated law to pave the way for maximum 15 percent deduction of salary of state government employees if there are found not looking after their aged parents.
