Punjab CM Mann announces drive to fill backlog of over 1K posts for PwDs

Chandigarh: Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Tuesday announced a major recruitment drive for filling up the backlog of vacant posts for PwDs in various departments.

Chairing a review meeting of the Social Justice and Child Welfare department at his official residence, the CM said the state government has identified a backlog 1,754 posts of direct recruitment and 556 posts of promotion for PWDs across various departments.

Mann asked the officers to expedite the process for filling up these vacant posts at the earliest.

The CM also gave his nod to amending rules under the Rights of Persons with Disability Act, 2016, adding that this amendment of rules will help in safeguarding the rights of persons with disability.

He said that recently the state government approved a free bus travel facility to blind dependents and a notification in this regard will be issued shortly. Mann said that 50% concession in fare has been given to PwDs in the Punjab Roadways and PRTC buses. “During 2023-24, Rs 2.19 crore has been spent, giving benefits to 7.5 lakh commuters,” he said.

The CM further said that 2.65 lakh disabled persons under the State Pension Scheme have been covered and Rs 278.17 crore has been paid to beneficiaries during 2024-25. He said that to encourage the education among disabled children, an amount worth Rs 3.37 crore has been paid as scholarship to 1,2607 beneficiaries. “The state government has released an amount of Rs 23.16 crore under the SIPDA scheme to make 144 government buildings accessible to PwDs,” he added.

Mann said that in order to ensure that PwDs live life with dignity and pride, the state government has facilitated loans of Rs 1.31 crore at concessional interest rates for PwDs during the last two years.