(File Photo)

Shillong, Aug 8: Chief Minister, Conrad K. Sangma on Wednesday said that the state government would implement the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 in the state at the earliest.

Sangma gave this assurance during a meeting with a delegation of the Khasi Disabilities Association (KDA) in the secretariat here.

KDA assistant general secretary Michael Thongni told reporters that the Chief Minister has assured us to take steps to ensure that the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 is implemented in the state at the earliest.”

Thongni said that the discussion during the meeting focused on the implementation of the 4 per cent job reservation as envisaged by the act.

“We have also suggested the need to consider appointing 3 persons with disabilities (PwDs) in all offices under the different departments to which the chief minister assured that the matter would be examined by the government,” he said.

On the other hand, KDA president, Starwin Kharjana informed that the chief minister has also assured the delegation that the government would soon release the CM’s Social Assistance Scheme to PwDs.

According to him, the government had failed to release the monthly allocation of Rs 500 each to more than 44,000 PwDs under the scheme from April 1, last year till date.