JS panel suggests 1.0pc quota for disabled people in govt jobs

The parliamentary standing committee on social welfare has suggested reserving 1.0 per cent quota in government jobs for the people with disabilities in line with the related law, reports bdnews24.com.

The parliamentary committee made the recommendation at a meeting on Wednesday, a day after a government panel recommended abolishing quotas and introducing merit-based appointments of the class one class two officers.

Besides other quotas in government jobs, there is a 1.0 per cent quota for the people with disabilities.

"The committee recommended the ministry keep taking effective steps to preserve the 1.0 per cent quota that reflects facilities mentioned in the disabilities act," the Parliament Secretariat said in a press release.

Speaking to the news agency, Social Welfare Minister Rashed Khan Menon said the quota for people with disabilities cannot be abolished without changing the Persons with Disabilities Rights and Protection Act.

"It will be contradictory to the Act if the quota is scrapped before amendments are made to the law," he said.

The quota system allows the government to preserve 56 per cent posts in jobs for different quotas.

These quotas include 30 per cent for families of freedom fighters, 10 per cent for women, 10 per cent for particular districts, 5.0 per cent for small ethnic groups, and 1.0 per cent for people with disabilities.

Students and jobseekers have been protesting against the system, demanding that the total jobs preserved for different quotas be brought down to 10 per cent.

When the quota reform protests peaked, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina told parliament on Apr 11 that she would rather see the system go. Later, she said that 30 per cent of quota will remain as per the directive of the High Court.