Punjab to fill up posts reserved for blind persons

Chandigarh, Jul 8 (UNI) The Punjab Government has decided to immediately clear the backlog of the posts reserved for the blind and partially blind persons in the state.

An assurance to this effect was given by Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal to a delegation of Naterheen Jagarities Sangh Punjab (visually challenged persons) led by its general secretary Prof Rajnish Mahal. The delegation which called on Mr Badal here today submitted a charter of demands to him.

Mr Badal asked the state Chief Secretary to direct all the Administrative Secretaries and heads of departments to intimate the position of vacant posts in their concerned departments reserved for the blind and partially blind persons so that these could be filled. The Chief Minister also asked the Secretary Social Security to undertake an exercise to identify the posts where visually challenged persons could be adjusted.

He also asked the department of school education to utilise the services and skills of visually impaired persons for teaching subjects like vocal and instrumental music and art and craft.

Likewise the Chief Minister also assured the members of the delegation that the government would soon seek an opinion of the Advocate General to ensure that the posts reserved for blind and partially blind persons should be strictly given to the eligible persons only under this category on the Haryana pattern and not to the other handicapped categories.

The Chief Minister also asked the Secretary Social Security to personally visit the state institute for blind at Jamalpur in Ludhiana district this week to get first hand information of the short comings in the institute in terms of infrastructure and staff besides the hardships faced by the blind students. He also promised to install a new browsour machine for the printing of Brail books and literature for the blind students at a cost of Rs 32 lakh for the Jamalpur Institute during the current financial year.

The Chief Minister also assured that the state government would extend all possible help and financial assistance to the institute.

Prominent amongst who were present in the meeting included Social Security Minister Swarna Ram, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister to Chief Minister D S Guru, Principal Secretary Social Security N S Kang, Commissioner for Disabilities Harjit Singh, Director Social Security Ms Rakhi Gupta Bhandari, Additional Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Parveen Kumar and DPI Schools Dr J S Khatra.

UNI HS VN1812