After implementing Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MNREGA) successfully and achieving significantly higher number of women under a flagship scheme of the Centre, now the Himachal Pradesh government has now come up with a plan to help the differently abled by providing jobs under MNREGA at their door step.
State Principal Secretary (rural development and panchayati raj) SKBS Negi has confirmed the development and stated that a notification and guidelines has been issued for the same. Under this scheme Govt will provide suitable work for physically-challenged person and depending upon their qualification at the local levels.
In its notification and guidelines, the department has marked the nature of the jobs that physically-challenged persons, including visually impaired those with special abilities and the handicapped can opt for. There is a list of 25 such jobs which could be offered to the differently able persons. However, there is no bar on the age of the differently abled persons to be engaged under MNREGA if he asks for a job. All these guidelines have been sent to the DCs, district rural development agencies, block development officers and panchayats.
The decision comes after the central government advised states to follow provisions of Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full participation) Act-1995 in MNREGA schemes. The rural development department’s initiative is expected to help the physically-challenged to earn wages at local levels under MNREGA.
