Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) on Friday submitted a bill in Senate Secretariat to amend Disabled Persons (Employment and Rehabilitation) Ordinance XL of 1981, seeking two percent job quota for the disabled persons in the federal, provincial and districts departments along with other facilities.
The nine-page bill was submitted by JI senators Professor Khurshid Ahmed, Professor Muhammad Ibrahim Khan and Afya Zia. The objectives of the amendments to the original law of 1981 are to introduce a practical approach through proposed system at district, tehsil and union council level, for the welfare of the persons with disabilities in every sphere of life.
The bill proposes that a new Section 2-A shall be inserted after Section 2 of the Disabled Persons (Employment and Rehabilitation) Ordinance XL of 1981, where 14 facilities are to be provided on top priority basis by the government, according to which: The government must ensure job quota of two percent for persons with disabilities in the federal, provincial and districts departments. In case if any institution or department ignores the quota for person with disabilities, while giving advertisement for employment, then serious action should be taken against them.
The bill envisages full concession in admission fee and relief of 75 percent in tuition fee in government educational institutions and 50 percent in private educational institutions and other financial assistance required by person with disabilities and seats will be reserved in every stage of education. The government shall ensure provision of 50 percent concession to the persons with disabilities in PIA, Railways, public and private transport fares.
The government shall give full relief to persons with disabilities on import of vehicles and other items relating to disabilities. The government shall provide free treatment to the persons with disabilities in federal, provincial, district headquarter, social security hospitals and dispensaries, as only 60 percent charges be taken in the private hospitals. It is also proposed to ensure provision of wheel chairs on demand from persons with disabilities at airports, parks, railway stations and other public places.
Pakistan Bait-ul-Maal and Zakat and Ushr departments will be bound to provide help on monthly basis to the needy persons with disabilities. The Bill demands interest free loans up to Rs 50,000 to be provided by Pakistan Bait-ul-Maal for setting up small businesses to the persons with disabilities. It is demanded that the Federal government shall ensure provision of easy access to all public and private facilities for persons with disabilities.
The bill also seeks full access to knowledge through information technology with the help of adoptive software and hardware, which have become common facilities for visually impaired, deaf and physically handicapped persons. While recruiting on posts such like tube well operator etc, complaint offices of utility departments: gas, electricity, and water authority at the union council level, it is proposed that the government shall prefer the appointments of persons with disabilities according to their qualification and condition to handle the job.
All the persons with disabilities working on contractual basis in any government, semi-government or in private institution or company be regularised within six months after the passing of the Bill. It is further proposed that the district, tehsil and local councils shall be established and proposed amendments to elaborate the functions of the said councils. The reason of proposing such amendments is to make government responsible through councils at district, tehsil and union council level. Function of the councils will be as followings;
Evaluate, assess and co-ordinate the execution of federal and provincial policy at district level and have responsibility for the achievement of the purposes of this law. Health counters shall be established in the hospitals and shall provide useful appliances and other devices needed by persons with disabilities Arranging awareness campaign on electronic and print media about the problems being faced by persons with disabilities. It would be duty of the councils to implement the section 2-A in the letter and spirit. It is proposed that if any person with disabilities is debarred from training, employment or any other relief, the authority shall give reasons.
It said that during the last 30 years, the parliament has not made any comprehensive legislation regarding the issue. There were almost daily reports telecasted on TV channels and published in print media regarding the grievances of persons with disabilities, however the government did not take any step in this regard, it added.
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