Controversy surrounding the appointment of new Commissioner for persons with disabilities (PWDs) is continuing with more than 150 physically challenged people and their family members on Sunday deciding to seek support for cancellation of the appointment.
The State government had appointed Minati Behera as Commissioner for persons with disabilities. The decision has attracted wide criticism as Dr. Behera is neither a person with disability nor he has any experience of working in disability sector.
For the past 10 days, letters protesting his posting and seeking cancellation of the appointment have been flooding Chief Minister’s mail box.
“As per government notification, a candidate proclaiming to be eligible for Commissioner’s post must have minimum 15 years of experience in one or more organisations. Out of the 15 years, at least three years of experience of recent post should have been in the field of empowerment of person with disabilities,” said Sruti Mohapatra, noted activist in the field of disabilities.
Eligibility criteria
Ms. Mohapatra alleged the government overlooked the vital eligibility criteria while selecting Dr. Behera as Commissioner.
Activists and parents assembled to lodge their protests charged: “The new Commissioner has been politically rehabilitated. A person should be very sensitive towards cause of persons with disabilities. If a person had never worked in the sector, it is futile to expect minimum compassion from her.”
As per Census 2011, there are 12,44,402 people with disabilities in Odisha. Appointment of right person as Commissioner for persons with disabilities assumes significance as many of the disabled live in abject poverty and remain invisible.
