Chief Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities (PWD) Prasanna Kumar Pincha had a courtesy meeting with the Chief Minister Raman Singh at his official residence on Saturday.
The Chief Minister welcomed the Commissioner by presenting him a memento while a local hearing-and-speech impaired student presented him a self-made painting of Pincha on the occasion. Pincha, being visually impaired from his birth, is the first ever person with disability holding this post since 2011. The Commissioner, who is presently on tour to different parts of the country, arrived here in Raipur on a two-day visit to look into the implementation of Persons with Disabilities (PWD) Act, 1995.
On the occasion, Singh admired the Commissioner’s virtue as despite being a visually impaired person, Pincha achieved the position due to his passion and efforts. Pincha also appreciated the State government run schemes for socio-economic development and rehabilitation of the persons with disabilities.
He mentioned of the State Government reserving two fold of the quota for persons with disabilities in Government jobs than that prescribed in PWD Act, 1995.The Act ensures 3 per cent reservation for the persons with disabilities in the Government jobs while the State Government has reserved 6 per cent for them.
“Other States should learn from the step in the interest of the disabled persons” added Pincha. He showed his happiness over the steps taken by the Social Welfare Department of the State Government to educate the persons with disability and making them self-reliant.
Pincha also appreciated the Social Welfare Department for operating ‘Cerebral Palsy Gait Belt’ and the Rehabilitation Centre for welfare of the differently abled persons. He urged the officials concerned from other states to come and learn about the steps taken by the State Government in this regard.
The Social Welfare Department’s Secretary, Subrat Sahu was present during the meet.During his visit, the Commissioner has already met with the representatives of Government and Non-Government organisations (NGO) working in this field along with the officials of the Social Welfare Department and the district administration and discussed suggestions, difficulties and other issues for better implementation of the Act, if any.