Centre Rolls Out New Guidelines for Disability Reservation to Ensure Uniformity Across Government Jobs
New Delhi, 24-11-2024: The Centre has recently issued comprehensive guidelines to streamline the reservation system for persons with disabilities, ensuring greater uniformity in its implementation. These guidelines are designed to address concerns about the identification of suitable posts for persons with at least 40 percent disability, and they stipulate the formation of committees tasked with evaluating the suitability of such positions. The move is in response to growing calls for clarity and consistency in the application of disability-related reservations, particularly after the Delhi High Court raised concerns over discrepancies in how posts were being identified for persons with benchmark disabilities (PwBDs).
The new guidelines align with the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act, 2016, and aim to address gaps in the previous implementation of the law. One of the key features of the updated directives is that once a post is identified as suitable for persons with disabilities, all subsequent promotional posts within that category will also be reserved for PwBDs. This ensures that individuals with disabilities are not confined to entry-level positions but are also given opportunities to advance in their careers.
The guidelines also call for the formation of committees in every ministry and department to assess job posts for their suitability for persons with disabilities. These committees are to include representatives from the disability community to ensure an inclusive and fair evaluation process. Additionally, the guidelines require that all identified posts undergo a comprehensive review every three years, allowing for adjustments to reflect technological advancements and changes in job requirements.
The new directives emphasize that the reservation system should be applied across various categories of disabilities, including blindness, locomotor disabilities, hearing impairments, and intellectual disabilities, with a four percent reservation in direct recruitment and promotions. This is aimed at fostering greater inclusivity and providing equal opportunities for persons with disabilities in government jobs.
Moreover, the guidelines also stress the importance of filling backlog vacancies and ensuring that the reservation policies are widely publicized so that eligible candidates are aware of the opportunities available to them. The updated guidelines also specify that exemptions from reservation policies will be valid for a maximum of three years, with a mandatory review to ensure that they are still necessary and aligned with the evolving needs of the workforce.
Arman Ali, the Executive Director of the National Centre for Promotion of Employment of Disabled People (NCPEDP), has welcomed these new guidelines as a step in the right direction for ensuring inclusivity and fairness in employment. Ali pointed out that identifying suitable posts for persons with disabilities is not merely about fulfilling reservation quotas; it is a crucial step towards creating meaningful career opportunities and empowering persons with disabilities to grow professionally. He also emphasized the importance of extending these measures to promotional positions, ensuring that individuals with disabilities have equal opportunities to progress in their careers rather than being limited to lower-level roles.
Ali further stressed the significance of forming expert committees to oversee the identification of suitable posts, particularly for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, who are often overlooked in such processes. He also underscored the importance of including people with disabilities in decision-making bodies, ensuring that their voices are heard and their needs are met.
The guidelines are set to take effect immediately and supersede all previous instructions on the matter, except for those issued in 2021 and 2022. This move aims to provide clearer and more consistent guidance to government departments and ministries, ensuring that persons with disabilities are given the same opportunities for career advancement as their non-disabled counterparts. The Centre’s decision to prioritize inclusivity and fairness is a welcome one, as it aligns with the broader goal of creating a more equitable society for all.
