DW BUREAU / Chandigarh

Cabinet Minister for Social Security, Women and Child Development, Dr. Baljit Kaur, has issued strict instructions to ensure strict adherence to the prescribed reservation roster for persons with disabilities (Divyangjans) in promotions across all government departments, institutions, and universities in Punjab.

While presiding over a high-level meeting at Punjab Bhawan with officials from the Social Security Department and representatives of various unions of persons with disabilities, Dr. Baljit Kaur attentively heard their concerns and issues. The unions highlighted that several departments have failed to implement the reservation roster points for Divyangjans during promotions. It was specifically brought to notice that Punjabi University Patiala has also overlooked the reserved roster points for Divyangjans in its promotion process.

Taking serious note of this during the high-level deliberations, the Cabinet Minister strictly directed the university representatives present in the meeting to immediately review their records and ensure that promotions are granted as per the reservation quota fixed for Divyangjans without any delay.

Dr. Baljit Kaur firmly stated that the government, under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, is fully committed to safeguarding the rights of persons with disabilities and will not tolerate any injustice against them. She also issued a clear warning that strict action would be taken against any officer found guilty of violating the reservation norms.

Additionally, the Minister directed the officials of the Social Security Department to thoroughly verify all rosters and submit a report on any discrepancies identified, along with recommendations for prompt action against responsible officials.

The Cabinet Minister further instructed the university administration to hold a meeting with the concerned unions at their level and address their genuine demands without delay. She emphasized that a detailed report of this meeting must be sent to the Social Security Department at the earliest.

On this occasion, the meeting was specially attended by Social Security, Women and Child Development Department Special Chief Secretary Raji P. Shrivastava, Director Sheena Aggarwal, Special Secretary Vimmi Bhullar, Deputy Directors of the department, along with officers from the Local Government Department and representatives from Punjabi University, Patiala.

(editor@dailyworld.in)