Srinagar, June 02: The Jammu & Kashmir government has taken a significant step by establishing district-level committees to address issues related to disabilities.
The move aims to provide advice to district authorities regarding the rehabilitation and empowerment of individuals with disabilities. M. Iqbal Lone, the Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities, announced the formation of these committees in all 20 districts of the Union Territory.
The formation of these committees is in accordance with Section 72 of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, and Rule 39 of the Jammu and Kashmir Rights for Persons with Disabilities Rules. Each committee will be headed by the respective District Magistrate and will include various members such as the chief medical officer, psychiatrist from the district hospital, public prosecutor, assistant labor commissioner, representatives from local bodies, ICDS project, and the public works department of the Jammu and Kashmir government.
A representative from a registered organization with at least five years of experience in the field of disability will be nominated by the concerned district social welfare officer. Individuals with disabilities as defined in the Right of Persons with Disabilities Act-2016 will also be part of the committees.
The primary role of these committees is to oversee the implementation of the Act and its provisions. They will assist district authorities in executing government schemes and programs aimed at empowering persons with disabilities. Furthermore, these panels will address complaints related to non-compliance with the Act’s provisions by district authorities and recommend appropriate remedial measures to address the issues.
