Chandigarh, January 11, 2025: A high-level meeting of the Punjab State Advisory Board, chaired by Social Security, Women and Child Development Minister Dr. Baljit Kaur, reviewed welfare initiatives for differently-abled individuals at Punjab Bhawan.
Dr. Kaur urged officials to ensure effective implementation of government schemes to maximize their benefits for the disabled population.
The Minister emphasized completing pending work under the SIPDA scheme, which includes making 144 buildings in 10 districts barrier-free within the stipulated time.
She also mandated a three-year timeline to make all government buildings in the state accessible. Additionally, a five-member district committee chaired by the Deputy Commissioner will oversee these efforts.
Strict Enforcement of RPWD Act and UDID Cards
Dr. Kaur stressed the need for strict adherence to the reservation provisions under the RPWD Act, 2016, and directed departments to report progress in the next board meeting.
Taking note of pending UDID card applications, she instructed the Health and Family Welfare Department to clear them within a month. Civil Surgeons were asked to hold special camps to address issues in card issuance.
Sports Policy and Employment Initiatives for Differently-Abled Persons
The Sports Department accentuated the Punjab Government’s Sports Policy 2023, which introduced a special cadre for differently-abled players. Punjab became the first state in the region to extend equal opportunities to disabled athletes.
Dr. Kaur urged the department to prioritize resolving grading issues for Divyang players.
To enhance the self-reliance of differently-abled individuals, she directed board members to identify eligible persons with NGOs’ assistance and facilitate vocational training and employment opportunities. A special employment exchange in Ludhiana was set up to assist beneficiaries.
Dr. Kaur instructed the Urban Development, Housing, and Rural Development departments to prioritize granting agricultural land and housing to disabled individuals under Section 37 of the RPWD Act. She also called for greater dissemination of information on these schemes.
Addressing Backlog Vacancies: The Minister disclosed that, under a special campaign, 21 departments identified backlog vacancies for differently-abled individuals and submitted recommendations to recruitment authorities to expedite the hiring process.
