Minister hints at action against illegal occupants

a view to checking the occupancy of non-disabled people on posts meant for the disabled, cabinet minister Om Prakash Rajbhar hints at possible crackdown on all such government departments in state.

Rajbhar, cabinet minister for backward classes welfare and disabled people development, told HT on Saturday that he sought a detailed report of handicap people employed on different posts and the number of sanctioned posts for them, soon after taking charge in March.

“Even after three months, no government departments resp onded to my request. I have come to know that many posts for disabled have been occupied fraudulently by people who are not disabled,” he said. “Strict action will be taken against those found guilty”, he said. The minister said earlier disability certificates were issued by tehsil but keeping in mind the chances of fraud and inconvenience faced by disabled in procuring certificates, it was decided that Gram Panchayat, Zila, Kshetriya Panchayat, MLA or an MP could also issue disability certificates.

“Decision for waiving loans of handicaps could also be taken soon probably next month, said the minister while addressing a press conference in Allahabad. He said 6,821 handicap persons had taken Rs 5.84 crore loan in the state of which Rs 1.60 crore had already been repaid while Rs 3.88 crore was left. The minister also said pension of Rs 300 per month to the disabled had been increased to Rs 500 while the maximum limit of Rs 30,000 loan to handicap had been increased to Rs 1 lakh with 50 percent subsidy.