Shillong Mar 28: Chief Minister, Conrad K. Sangma on Wednesday met representatives of an association of persons with disabilities who also submitted a charter of demands seeking his interventions.

The Chief Minister assured to look into their grievances and he would convene a joint meeting with Minister for Social Welfare along with officials of concern departments after the budget session next month.

The representatives under the banner of Khasi Disabilities Association requested the Chief Minister to implement the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 which has not fully implemented in the state, and urged the state government to also respect human rights by implementing the Act.

The Chief Minister was urged to fully implement 4 per cent job reservation for persons with disabilities as announced by the Central government through the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, and the need to appoint one member from among the persons with disabilities in the Meghalaya Public Service Commission as well as in district selection committees of all 11 districts in the state to be part of the process for job appointment.

The Association demanded filling up of vacancies by conducting special recruitment drive as specified in the Act of 2016 and as per directions of the Supreme Court, which is yet to be implemented in the state.

The Chief Minister gave a patient hearing to the grievances and assured that on a priority basis, issues concerning welfare of persons with disabilities would be looked into.

He also assured to look into various other requests of the Association including development of infrastructure for persons with disabilities and other facilities that should be made available to them.

The other issues raised by the Association include 5 percent special allotment of permit for local taxis in all districts for disabled persons who want to apply for a loan under the National Handicapped Finance Development Corporation, 5 percent reservation from scheme under the Pradhan Mantri Awass Yojana Gramin (PMAY-G), special recruitment drive to fill up backlog recruitment for persons with disabilities in State government departments.

The Association also demanded increase of unemployment allowance from Rs 1,000 to Rs 3,000 for those disabled persons who have passed 10th standard onwards in order to avail basic necessities of life, besides conducting awareness programme concerning sports activities for persons with disabilities to encourage talented ones in various fields.

There are around 42,000 persons with disabilities in Meghalaya.