Lok Sabha Question No. 2320 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-12-21
Subject: Vacancies for Persons with Benchmark Disabilities
Ministry: PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS
Asked by: Rahul Gandhi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS (DEPARTMENT OF PERSONNEL & TRAINING)

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2320

(TO BE ANSWERED ON 21.12.2022)

## VACANCIES FOR PERSONS WITH BENCHMARK DISABILITIES

## 2320. SHRI RAHUL GANDHI:

Will the PRIME MINISTER be pleased to state:

- (a) the  current  status  of  filling  up  of  vacancies  reserved  for  persons  with  benchmark disabilities in the Central Government;
- (b) the details of vacancies reserved for persons with benchmark disabilities, group-wise;
- (c) the details of persons with benchmark disabilities recruited since 2018, Ministry-wise;
- (d) the  measures  initiated  by  the  Government  to  create  public  awareness  and  assist candidates with benchmark disabilities in applying for relevant posts; and
- (e) the measures being taken by the Government to create accessible workplaces for persons with benchmark disabilities?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE PRIME MINISTER'S OFFICE (DR. JITENDRA SINGH)

(a) to (c):   Filling of vacancies for persons with benchmark disabilities is a continuous process. With the enactment of 'The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016', four per cent of the total  number  of  vacancies  to  be  filled  up  by  direct  recruitment,  in  the  cadre  strength,  in  each group of posts, i.e. Group A, B and C, are reserved for such persons in the following manner-

| Categories   | Categories                                                                                                                               | Percentage   |
|--------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------|
| (a)          | blindness and low vision                                                                                                                 | 1%           |
| (b)          | deaf and hard of hearing                                                                                                                 | 1%           |
| (c)          | locomotor disability including cerebral palsy, leprosy cured, dwarfism, acid attack victims and muscular dystrophy                       | 1%           |
| (d)          | autism, intellectual disability, specific learning disability and mental illness                                                         |              |
| (e)          | multiple disabilities from amongst persons under clauses (a) to (d) including deaf-blindness in the posts identified for each disability |              |

From  the  year  2018  to  2021,  4798  persons  with  benchmark  disabilities  have  been recruited through direct recruitment in the posts and services of the Central Government as per data  provided  by  various  Ministries/Departments  of  the  Central  Government  including  their attached and subordinate offices.

(d):   Facility of Scribes for written examination / computer based examination are provided to the Persons with Benchmark Disability candidates having benchmark disabilities in the category of  blindness,  locomotor  disability  (Both  Arms  Affected)  and  cerebral  palsy  if  desired  by  the candidates and  to  the  remaining  candidates  of  Persons  with  Benchmark  Disabilities  on production of certificate from the Chief Medical Officer/Civil Surgeon/ Medical Superintendent of  a  Government  Health  Care  Institution  at  the  time  of  examination.  Compensatory  time  of twenty minutes per hour is also provided to such candidates. All such provisions are included in the notices of examination.

(e):   The measures already specified as per 'Harmonised Guidelines & Standards for Universal Accessibility in India 2021', 'Handbook on Barrier Free and Accessibility' and other manuals issued by Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs/Central Public Works Department from time to time are being followed to create accessible workplace for persons with benchmark disabilities.

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