Punjab govt giving Rs2,000 per month to PWDs, SC told.

ISLAMABAD -- Despite the increasing inflation and hard economic situation, the Punjab government is providing a meagre amount of only Rs2,000 per month as assistance to Persons with Disabilities (PWDs), a report submitted to the Supreme Court on Friday revealed.

The Rs2,000 per month to PWDs is for those who are not able to work while Rs1,500 per month as assistance is being given to those PWDs who are able to work, the report further revealed.

According to the report submitted in Supreme Court in a case pertaining to right and welfare of PWDs, around 67,102 PWDs are drawing monthly cash assistance under the Khidmat Card Program.

The report submitted by Additional Advocate General Punjab Faisal Fareed Hussain further stated that in collaboration with the Punjab Small Industries Corporation, the Punjab Social Protection Authority has launched an income generation scheme with a cost of Rs270.417 million.

All PWDs in Punjab who are able to work and have a viable business plan are entitled to receive interest-free loan for setting up their own business under this scheme. Uptill, 5,928 PWDs have received loans under this project.

Under the Asset Transfer Scheme, so far 1763 rural area females PWDs have received buffaloes and cows. The report further stated that the Punjab government has collected Rs. 50 million so far from the private establishments who have not employed the PWDs against the 3 per cent quota.

The collected amount is for the purpose of welfare of PWDs and the amount is collected under Section-11 of the Disabled Persons (Employment and Rehabilitation) Ordinance 1981.

District Assessment Boards (DABs) under Section 12 of the said Ordinance so far issued Disability Certificates to 0.18 million PWDs for the job on quota.

'In public sector/ Government departments 9183 posts have been identified so far, as reserved against 3% employment quota. Out of which, 4607 posts have already been filled. In second phase, 3717 posts have recently been advertised by the Government departments,' the report stated.

The government sector posts of BS-17 and above come under the purview of the Punjab Public Service Commission. After the identification of vacant posts against reserved quota, the same are advertised and the recruitment process is completed under the legal arrangements through Commission.

Regarding the private sector, the report stated that 789 private establishments have been identified where the 3 per cent employment quota is applicable.

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