Lok Sabha Question No. 41 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-04
Subject: Employment Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities (PWDs)
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: Karti P. Chidambaram

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 41 TO BE ANSWERED ON 04 TH  DECEMBER, 2023

## EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES (PWDS)

## 41. SHRI KARTI P. CHIDAMBARAM :

Will the Minister of LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT be pleased to state:

- (a) The measures taken by the Government to increase employment opportunities for Persons With Disabilities (PWDs);
- (b) whether  the Government  has  made  any  progress  towards  tackling discrimination against PWDs in public and private sector;
- (c) whether  the  Government  has  taken  any  steps  to  ensure  that  all  PWDs, including  those  with  invisible  disabilities,  are  given  equal  employment opportunities as their able-bodied counterparts;
- (d) whether the Government has any plans to provide adequate employment opportunities for PWDs, especially female PWDs in rural areas; and
- (e)
- if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT (SHRI RAMESWAR TELI)

(a)  to  (e)  :Department  for  Empowerment  of  Persons  with  Disabilities  (DEPwD) implements the National Action Plan (NAP) for skill development of Persons with Disabilities (PwDs). Under the NAP, PwDs between age group of 15 and 59 years are  provided  skill  training  with  a  view  to  make  them  self-reliant,  productive member of the society. In order to enhance the scope of skill training and to provide  employment  opportunities  to  PwD,  DEPwD  has  launched  PM-DAKSHDEPwD Portal for skill training in 250+ market driven courses and the Divyangjan on

Rozgar Setu platform which provides geo tagged based information employment/earning opportunities within private companies across the country.

An  incentive  scheme  to  the  employers  in  private  sectors  for  providing employment to PWDs was introduced in the year 2007-08. The employer share of contribution in respect of such employees and for such period is reimbursed to the Employees' State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) by the Central Government.

The Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act, 2016 has a provision on  non-discrimination  in  employment.  According  to  which,  'No  Government establishment shall discriminate against any person with disability in any matter relating to employment'.

The  RPwD  Act,  2016,  mandates  for  every  appropriate  Government  to appoint in every Government establishment, not less than four per cent of the total number of vacancies in the cadre strength in each group of posts meant to be filled with persons with benchmark disabilities. Ministry  of  Labour  and  Employment  has  been  facilitating  vocational rehabilitation services to PWDs through 24 National Career Service Centres for Differently Abled across the country. Aforesaid measures are aimed at providing employment opportunities to PwDs including female PwDs in rural areas also. Besides, employment generation coupled with improving employability is the priority of the Government. Accordingly, the Government of India has taken various steps for generating employment in the country, including persons with disabilities  like:  Aatmanirbhar  Bharat  Rojgar  Yojana  (ABRY),  Prime  Minister Street  Vendor's  Atma  Nirbhar  Nidhi  Scheme  (PM  SVANidhi  Scheme),  Prime Minister's  Employment Generation Programme  (PMEGP), Mahatma  Gandhi National  Rural  Employment  Guarantee  Scheme  (MGNREGS),  Pt.  Deen  Dayal Upadhyaya  Grameen  Kaushalya  Yojana  (DDU-GKY)  and  Deen  Dayal  Antodaya Yojana-National Urban Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NULM) etc. Further, the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) is implementing  the  National  Apprenticeship  Promotion  Scheme  (NAPS)  and Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) to enhance the employability of youth including PwD candidates. Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojna (PMKVY) for Skill based training of the youth across the country including PwDs. Besides these initiatives, various flagship programmes of the Government such as Make in India, Start-up India, Stand-up India, Digital India, Housing for employment  opportunities

All etc. are also oriented towards generating including PwDs.

*****