Srinagar, Jan 13 (KNS):  In a landmark decision of far reaching significance, the State government has constituted the State Co-ordination Committee under the Persons with Disabilities Act, 1998 which will further strengthen the mechanism of protection of the rights of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs).
An order to this effect was issued by Social Welfare Department on Jan 11, 2018 which states that the 26-member Committee will be headed by Minister for Social Welfare.
To make the Co-ordination Committee fully empowered so that the PWD Act is implemented in letter and spirit by all structures of administration, three legislators, Principal secretary  to Government of the Finance Department, the Bureau of Public Enterprises, Health and Medical Education and Industries and Commerce,  the Commissioner Secretaries of the departments of GAD, Science & Technology, Labour & Employment, Social Welfare Department besides the Commissioner for Persons With Disabilities, Secretary Education and Directors of the Social Welfare Department are among the Ex-officio members of the Committee.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel
The most significant part of the Committee is that the representatives of the PWD community and the NGOs working for the welfare of PWDs have been made members of Committee.
Thus, the 26-member Committee will have 8 members from non-governmental side, which will ensure that the policies and decisions taken will be holistic and conclusive.
This is for the first time in the State that a high-powered committee involving all the stakeholders has been formed by the government to put in place an institutionalized mechanism for the full implementation of the PWD Act-1998.
This is also for the first time that representatives and NGOs working in the disability sector have been made part of a government committee where their views and suggestions will be very much part of the policy and decision-making process. (KNS)