Employment Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) – Measures taken by the Government to increase employment opportunities: Lok Sabha QA

 Employment Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) – Measures taken by the Government to increase employment opportunities: Lok Sabha QA

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 41
TO BE ANSWERED ON 04TH DECEMBER, 2023

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES (PWDS)

41. SHRI KARTI P. CHIDAMBARAM :
Will the Minister of LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT be pleased to state:

(a) The measures taken by the Government to increase employment opportunities for Persons With Disabilities (PWDs);

(b) whether the Government has made any progress towards tackling discrimination against PWDs in public and private sector;

(c) whether the Government has taken any steps to ensure that all PWDs, including those with invisible disabilities, are given equal employment opportunities as their able-bodied counterparts;

(d) whether the Government has any plans to provide adequate employment opportunities for PWDs, especially female PWDs in rural areas; and

(e) if so, the details thereof?

ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT (SHRI RAMESWAR TELI)

(a) to (e) :Department for Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD) implements the National Action Plan (NAP) for skill development of Persons with Disabilities (PwDs). Under the NAP, PwDs between age group of 15 and 59 years are provided skill training with a view to make them self-reliant, productive member of the society. In order to enhance the scope of skill training and to provide employment opportunities to PwD, DEPwD has launched PM-DAKSH DEPwD Portal for skill training in 250+ market driven courses and the Divyangjan Rozgar Setu platform which provides geo tagged based information on employment/earning opportunities within private companies across the country.

An incentive scheme to the employers in private sectors for providing employment to PWDs was introduced in the year 2007-08. The employer share of contribution in respect of such employees and for such period is reimbursed to the Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) by the Central Government.

The Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act, 2016 has a provision on non-discrimination in employment. According to which, “No Government establishment shall discriminate against any person with disability in any matter relating to employment”.

The RPwD Act, 2016, mandates for every appropriate Government to appoint in every Government establishment, not less than four per cent of the total number of vacancies in the cadre strength in each group of posts meant to be filled with persons with benchmark disabilities.

Ministry of Labour and Employment has been facilitating vocational rehabilitation services to PWDs through 24 National Career Service Centres for Differently Abled across the country. Aforesaid measures are aimed at providing employment opportunities to PwDs including female PwDs in rural areas also.

Besides, employment generation coupled with improving employability is the priority of the Government. Accordingly, the Government of India has taken various steps for generating employment in the country, including persons with disabilities like: Aatmanirbhar Bharat Rojgar Yojana (ABRY), Prime Minister Street Vendor’s Atma Nirbhar Nidhi Scheme (PM SVANidhi Scheme), Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP), Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS), Pt. Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana (DDU-GKY) and Deen Dayal Antodaya Yojana-National Urban Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NULM) etc.

Further, the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) is implementing the National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS) and Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) to enhance the employability of youth including PwD candidates. Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojna (PMKVY) for Skill based training of the youth across the country including PwDs.

Besides these initiatives, various flagship programmes of the Government such as Make in India, Start-up India, Stand-up India, Digital India, Housing for All etc. are also oriented towards generating employment opportunities including PwDs.